San Diego, California – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are actively searching for 51-year-old Nick A. Lopez, who walked away from the Male Community Reentry Program (MCRP) facility in San Diego on Friday afternoon.
Lopez was reported missing at approximately 2:40 p.m. on April 18 after removing his GPS tracking device. CDCR staff immediately launched a search and conducted an emergency count at the facility, confirming Lopez’s absence. The CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety and local law enforcement agencies are assisting in the ongoing search.
Lopez is described as Latino, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 250 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a black and white sweater or jacket.
Authorities urge anyone who sees Lopez or has information on his whereabouts to call 911, contact any local law enforcement agency, or reach out directly to Special Agent Brian Hernandez at 619-666-5522.
Lopez had been housed at the MCRP-San Diego since March 4, 2025. He was sentenced in 2023 to five years and four months in prison for vehicle theft with a prior vehicle-related theft conviction and for possessing or owning a firearm as a felon/addict — both classified as second-strike offenses. He was most recently received from San Diego County on September 13, 2023.
The MCRP is a voluntary program for male inmates with two years or less remaining on their sentences. It is designed to assist participants with their transition back into society by offering access to education, employment, housing support, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and family reunification programs.
While escapes from such facilities are rare, they do occur. Since 1977, correctional officials report that 99 percent of individuals who have escaped or walked away from an adult institution, reentry facility, or in-state program have been apprehended.
The CDCR emphasized that the public should not attempt to approach Lopez if spotted. Instead, officials encourage anyone with information to promptly notify authorities to ensure a safe and swift resolution.
