UPDATED: Jail Escapee Found in Santa Monica

Originally posted at 8:21 a.m. April 3, 2014. Edited with new details. 

A convicted burglar who walked away from jail three weeks ago was back in custody today after being recognized outside a recreation center, authorities said.

Christopher Lee Brown, who was the subject of a $20,000 reward, was re- captured without incident by Santa Monica police officers around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. David Oliva.

Brown, 37, was seen outside the Pico Youth and Family Center near the intersection of Pico and Lincoln boulevards, Oliva said.

The Alhambra man had been sought since escaping March 12 from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Inmate Reception Center, just hours after being sentenced to four years and eight months behind bars for his March 6 conviction on two counts of second-degree commercial burglary and one count of receiving stolen property.

Brown broke into the AHMC Healthcare facility in Alhambra last October and December and stole two computers and three flash drives, Deputy District Attorney David Eng said after the verdict.

As a result of the thefts, 729,000 patients' identifying information, as well as financial and credit information was jeopardized, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Brown was arrested soon after the second burglary.

Just over two weeks after Brown escaped, the county Board of Supervisors approved a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Tony Bell, a spokesman for Supervisor Michael Antonovich, said the person who tipped police to Brown's whereabouts would likely get the reward, but must first file an application with the county.

"The reward played a vital role in the apprehension of this suspect," he said.

Brown was being held without bail, authorities said.

He has been charged with one felony count of escape and could be arraigned as early as Friday.

--City News Service