By ALISHA WYMAN

The Union Democrat

A prisoner escaped from Sierra Conservation Center on Wednesday afternoon, prompting limitations in daily activities at the Jamestown prison.

Tehama County resident George Lopez was last seen at 2 p.m. working in the carpentry shop, said Lt. Jimmy Hurtado, prison spokesman.

A supervisor noticed his absence and notified other officials, he said. Prison officials did a head count to confirm that Lopez was missing.

While patrols search for Lopez, the prison has been placed on a "modified program," where they are kept in their living quarters with the exception of meals and for medical attention.

Lopez has been in and out of the prison system, starting with a conviction for disregard for safety. Hurtado was unsure what exactly he did to earn the conviction, but disregard for safety can be offenses like domestic violence, child cruelty, drunk driving with children in the car or elder abuse, he said.

Hurtado was also unsure what Lopez's latest conviction was, but he is a low-risk inmate.

"Anytime you have an ex-felon who's out there there's always some type of concern because you never know their way of thinking," he said.

Authorities ask anyone who may have seen Lopez to call law enforcement, Hurtado said.

Lopez is described as 35 years old, about 5 foot 11 inches tall, 165 pounds and average build. He has scars on his right forearm, right arm, and right eye, and no muscle control in his hand.

He was last seen wearing a green jumpsuit with a prison label on the back.