Sheriff: Teacher admitted giving inmates satellite image of jail
NEW YORK -- Officials say a teacher working at California jail admitted to giving Hossain Nayeri a Google Maps satellite image of the jail, which may have played a central role in the escape of Nayeri and two other inmates on Jan. 22.
Nooshafarin Ravaghi, 44, was arrested Thursday. She is facing a charge of accessory to a felony, and prosecutors plan to seek that she be held on $500,000 bail, according to Orange County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock. Ravaghi will be arraigned Monday, Hallock said at a press conference today.
Nayeri attended several of Ravaghi's English as a second language classes in the Orange County Central Men's Jail, Hallock said. Ravaghi worked for the Rancho Santiago Community College District and taught at the jail for about 18 months, according to Hallock.
It is not clear why Nayeri, a 44-year-old former U.S. Marine who grew up in central California, was in Rayaghi's class.
Hallock described Ravaghi's relationship with Nayeri as, "Much closer and much more personal than it should have been."
Ravaghi allegedly acknowledged to investigators that she gave Nayeri a printout of a Google Maps satellite image that showed the jail complex and surrounding area. Officials believe the printout may have played a central role in the inmates' escape plan.
Officials confirmed Friday that Ravaghi took a mandatory class for those working in the jail, which covered topics like rules the inmates must follow, and potential techniques inmates could use to manipulate staff. Such courses are common requirements for both civilians and law enforcement who work in jails in prisons in the United States.
Nayeri escaped with cellmates Bac Duong, 43, and Jonathan Tieu, 20, one week ago. Authorities believe they used a power tool to cut their way through a steel grate in their cell, climbed through plumbing tunnels -- cutting through as many as four more barriers -- and made their way to the jail's roof. Once their, they used a rope made of braided bedsheets to rappel four stories to freedom. from the roof of the Orange County Central Men's Jail.
The 5 a.m. escape wasn't noticed for 16 hours, a fact that has drawn withering criticism from corrections experts.
Hallock said investigators believe the trio are living in a white GMC Savana van that was stolen on Sunday in southern Los Angeles.
Duong apparently stole the vehicle from someone after responding to a sales ad and taking it for a test drive, Hallock said Thursday.
"They may be driving around and potentially living in the back" of the van, he said.
Hallock said the ongoing manhunt has led to about 10 arrests so far in connection with the escape, with several other arrests made in connection with unrelated arrest warrants or probation violations. None of those arrests were of jail employees.
The investigation has centered on a Vietnamese gang in the nearby cities of Westminster and Garden Grove with ties to two of the inmates.
On Thursday night, authorities served warrants at a residence and a warehouse in Westminster, but Hallock said no arrests were made.
Tieu, Duong and Nayeri had all been awaiting trial for unrelated violent crimes.
Tieu is a 20-year-old who is accused of murder and attempted murder. Court documents obtained by 48 Hours' Crimesider allege that Tieu is in a gang known as "TRG," or "Tiny Rascal Gang." Prosecutors say he shot and killed one man, and injured a juvenile, after a March 2011 fight that involved several gangs. More than 10 people were arrested in raids following the murder. Tieu was being held on $1 million bond in the case.
Duong, 43, is accused of shooting and badly injuring a man in November 2015. He was being held without bond since last month on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited dwelling and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. Duong is also believed to be associated with a gang, Hallock said.