State hospital unable
to hold prisoner

Leonard Moore has escaped
twice in two weeks, and
is still at large

By Nelson Daranciang
Star-Bulletin

The state Health Department is trying to find a way to have a habitual escapee evaluated in prison rather than in the State Hospital in Kaneohe to determine if he is fit to stand trail.

Leonard Moore, 35, has escaped from the hospital twice in the past two weeks by throwing large objects through windows. On March 28, Moore threw a wooden table through a window to make his escape. He was recaptured April 1 and returned to the hospital. Then on Saturday, Moore threw a television set through a window. He is still at large.

"Reinforcing the window would be one possibility," said Bruce Anderson, state health director, on measures the state could take to prevent more escapes.

A state judge committed Moore to the State Hospital March 20 to determine whether he is fit to stand trial for an auto theft case last October. State mental examiners have not been able to make an evaluation because he keeps escaping.

"There is no reason an individual needs to be brought to the State Hospital for evaluation if it can be done in the prison or cellblock, unless there are mitigating circumstances," Anderson said.

A mitigating circumstance could be if Moore is mentally ill.

"We need to work with Public Safety and Judiciary to make sure that the individual is evaluated in an appropriate situation and brought to the hospital for treatment, preferably after evaluation is done," Anderson said.