California inmate Corey Hughes fled prison work crew with skull face tattoo — then sued arresting officers over dog bite

A 27-year-old California inmate walked away from an off-site work crew months before his scheduled release date, authorities said.

Corey Hughes, 27, was serving time at the San Joaquin County Honor Farm in Stockton.

Hughes was serving time for a California weapons conviction, according to state records.

Corrections officials had scheduled his release for February 2018. He never reached that release date while serving his sentence, authorities said.

On November 27, 2017, the inmate walked away from a work crew near Interstate 5 and Country Club Boulevard in Stockton, police said.

Hughes simply did not return to the custody of the facility, according to authorities.

The inmate was distinguished by an exposed human skull tattooed across his entire lower face, police said.

The ink ran across his cheeks, around his nose, and over his mouth and jaw, according to authorities.

Law enforcement did not need to issue a generic description such as brown hair and medium build. They shared his booking photo displaying the skull during the search, police said.

The fugitive managed to remain out of custody for more than three weeks, according to officials.

On December 21, investigators received a tip that Hughes was hiding inside a north Stockton residence, police said.

The tip placed the inmate at a house on Don Avenue, according to authorities.

California corrections officials set up an active perimeter around the north Stockton property, police said.

Officers knocked on the door of the home. Nobody answered, authorities said.

A Stockton police K-9 was sent into the house to clear the interior, according to police.

Shortly before 1 p.m., Hughes was taken back into custody without further incident, authorities said.

The capture ended the three-week manhunt as quietly as the original walkaway from the unattended crew, police said.

Hughes later filed a civil lawsuit against the officers involved in his apprehension, court records show.

The suit claimed officers used excessive force against him after he was already in handcuffs, according to the complaint.

The force alleged by the inmate included a beating and a police dog bite, court documents state.

The lawsuit eventually reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, according to federal records.

A lower court had ruled against Hughes on his claims. The Ninth Circuit reversed part of that ruling, according to court documents.

Appellate judges found genuine factual disputes over whether the force used was excessive once Hughes was restrained, letting parts of his civil-rights claims move forward, court records show.