3 indicted in prison
escape; 2 also charged
with hijacking a car

Bail is set at $500,000 for Batalona
and $50,000 for the others

---

By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

An Oahu grand jury has indicted three men who led authorities on a six-day manhunt in Windward Oahu after escaping from Halawa Correctional Facility on April 4.

Albert Batalona, David Scribner and Warren Elicker are expected to appear in Circuit Court for arraignment on the charges shortly.

Batalona, 27, was indicted yesterday with second-degree escape and two counts of second-degree robbery for allegedly hijacking a car from a man at Stadium Mall and taking his cell phone.

Scribner, 20, who allegedly was with Batalona when they took the man's car, was charged with second-degree escape and one count of second-degree robbery.

Elicker, 25, was charged only with second-degree escape.

Circuit Judge Victoria Marks affirmed bail at $500,000 for Batalona and $50,000 apiece for Scribner and Elicker, calling the amounts "reasonable."

In support of high bail for Batalona, Deputy Prosecutor Jean Ireton said the state considers him "very dangerous." Batalona is a known crystal methamphetamine user and a gun fanatic, she said. He left behind a note in his cell at Halawa indicating he was not returning to any correctional facility, she said.

Batalona was serving life without parole for shooting at a police officer during the 1999 robbery of the American Savings Bank in Kahala.

Ireton said Elicker and Scribner have no known addresses or means of support.

If the men are convicted, prosecutors have indicated they will seek extended prison terms to be served after the terms the inmates are currently serving.