For Immediate Release:
December 10, 2021
Media Contacts
Amy Webb, Chief of Communications & Community Engagement
amy.webb@dhs.arkansas.gov
Gavin Lesnick, Deputy Chief of Communications
gavin.lesnick.dhs@dhs.arkansas.gov
(LITTLE ROCK, Ark.) — A teen committed to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Youth Services (DYS) custody left a facility in Jonesboro without authorization Friday afternoon. Local law enforcement have been notified and are looking for the youth.
Arkansas Code Annotated 9-28-215 requires DYS to provide the public identifying information about youth who leave DYS custody without authorization if the youth “is committed to the Division of Youth Services for an offense that would be a felony if the offense were committed by an adult.”
James Escobar, 15, is a white male with brown hair weighing 220 pounds and standing 6 foot 1 inches tall. He has been in DYS custody since June 2021 on a charge of transmitting or distributing material depicting a child.
Escobar and a second youth were reported missing from Consolidated Youth Services in Jonesboro shortly before 12:45 p.m. The center provides services for youth committed to DYS custody.
Anyone with information on their location is asked to contact local authorities.
