Escaped Inmate Who Assaulted Deputy Faces 29 Counts

Santa Cruz County, Calif., District Attorney Bob Lee filed a 29-count criminal complaint late Tuesday against Maurice Lamont Ainsworth, the jail inmate accused of assaulting a sheriff's deputy and shooting at a bystander before terrorizing a nearby preschool and family during a five-hour manhunt last week, reports the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Ainsworth, 24, faces one count of attempted murder for allegedly firing the deputy's stolen handgun at a woman who tried to intervene during his brazen escape from Dominican Hospital on Nov. 29.

Other felony charges include multiple counts of assault, battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and burglary. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence. Before the escape, he was serving a three-year term for armed robbery and home invasion.

Deputy Cathy Bramanti had transported Ainsworth to the medical center for an MRI for shoulder pain authories believe he faked. Ainsworth assaulted Bramanti, TASERing her in the head and stealing the deputy's service weapon.

Bramanti now recovering from her injuries.

Read the full story at SantaCruzSentinel.com.