Southern California Jailbreak Mastermind Convicted

Hossein Nayeri listens to the judges' instructions before the reading of the verdict in his trial in Newport Beach, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2019. Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An inmate who organized a daring, elaborate Southern California jailbreak in 2016 was found guilty Thursday of the escape but acquitted of kidnapping a taxi driver while on the run, authorities said.

Jurors in Orange County Superior Court also convicted Hossein Nayeri, 44, of Newport Beach of stealing a van but acquitted him of kidnapping during a carjacking and lesser offenses, the district attorney’s office said in a statement.