Attorney: Alleged Michigan fugitive should be released from San Diego jail

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A San Diego woman wanted in Michigan for allegedly
escaping from prison 37 years ago admitted Tuesday that she is the person
authorities sought, but her attorneys said she should be released from jail,
because she already served her term for the underlying charge in 1982.

Judy Lynn Hayman, 60, was arrested at her Balboa Park-area home Feb. 3.
Police said the woman admitted that Hayman was her name, but she refused to
admit that in court until Tuesday.

On Feb. 7, she pleaded not guilty to a criminal complaint charging her
with being a fugitive from justice.

Michigan corrections officials said Hayman pleaded guilty in June 1976
to a misdemeanor charge of attempted larceny in a building for trying to steal
clothes from a Detroit-area store and was sentenced to serve between 16 months
and two years in custody. Ten months later, she walked away from the Women's
Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

In 1982, Hayman was arrested and went back to Michigan, and a judge
determined the case was resolved, said attorney Lisa Damiani.

Hayman legally changed her name to Jamie Lewis in 1983.

In 1996, Hayman was arrested in Nevada. Authorities determined her
attempted larceny sentence had been suspended, and she was freed from custody,
according to Damiani.

Outside court Tuesday, Damiani said she is trying to provide Michigan
authorities with documentation showing that Hayman has done her time.

Until then, Hayman must sit in a San Diego jail cell until her legal
team can convince Michigan authorities that she should be free, Damiani said.

“That's not right,” Damiani said outside court.

If Michigan issues a warrant from the governor seeking Hayman's
extradition, Damiani said she would file a writ of habeas corpus in San Diego
Superior Court.

Damiani said she can also contact California Gov. Jerry Brown to help
resolve the situation.