Michael Douglas Taylor

Michael Douglas Taylor, the alleged master jewel thief and Orange County fugitive captured here last weekend, may have had a sideline in his criminal career: He also robbed shoe stores, authorities say. Police here and in other cities said that Taylor is suspected of robbing shoe stores in Des Moines and Denver, as well as jewelry stores in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., West Des Moines, and River Grove, Ill., on his cross-country flight since he...

The leader in a five-man escape from Orange County Jail two years ago was sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years Thursday for kidnaping a Santa Ana man and taking his car during the escapees' getaway. But Michael D. Taylor's days in court are far from over.

Florida police have captured a man who allegedly robbed a Chicago jewelry store earlier this month with Michael Douglas Taylor, the mastermind of one of Orange County's largest jailbreaks. Taylor, 35, led five Orange County Jail inmates on an escape Nov. 20 by rappelling from the top of the four-story building in downtown Santa Ana. Four of the inmates were captured or turned themselves in; Taylor is still a fugitive.

A suspected jewel thief accused of masterminding one of Orange County's largest jailbreaks was convicted Thursday of kidnaping, robbery and auto theft. Michael Taylor, 37, who was featured three times on "America's Most Wanted" television program, could face life in prison as a result of the verdict, though he would be eligible for parole, authorities said.

Michael Douglas Taylor, who allegedly led four other inmates in an escape from Orange County Jail last November, appeared in federal court today after his arrest here Saturday and said he "objected" to the charges against him. Taylor, suspected of robbing dozens of jewelry stores in several states, is being held without bond on charges that he fled California to avoid prosecution after the jailbreak. Dressed in dark green jail clothes, Taylor was led into court under heavy security.

An alleged master jewel thief who authorities believe masterminded the escape of five prisoners from Orange County Jail last year was returned to that jail Tuesday from South Dakota, where he was captured May 20. Michael Douglas Taylor, 36, suspected of a crime spree after his escape, now faces charges of robbery, kidnaping, rape, grand theft and escape. Taylor, who is also known as Michael Douglas Gianetti, will be arraigned Thursday, according to Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Larry Richey.

Three men, including an alleged master jewel thief who planned a daring Orange County jailbreak last year, have been charged with the murder of a Burbank jeweler who was gunned down during a failed robbery in 1987, authorities said Tuesday. The three--all in California jails or prisons--are suspected of slaying T.W. Hamilton, 50, on July 9, 1987, in his jewelry store, Creme de Le Gem, on West Magnolia Boulevard.

Darcy Knight knew for sure he had passed up a real bargain. What he didn't know for sure was whom he had turned over to police. "I'm still trying to figure out who it was," Knight said Saturday evening, only hours after telephoning police from the Fair Deal Pawn and Gun shop in Rapid City, S.D. Thanks to Knight, Rapid City police arrested Michael Douglas Taylor, believed to be the mastermind of November's Orange County jailbreak....

Jail escapee Michael Douglas Taylor, fighting extradition from South Dakota to California, told a judge Thursday he does not want to be sent to Orange County, where he fears for his life in County Jail. A spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which oversees the jail, called Taylor's claims "hogwash" and an attempt to solicit sympathy from South Dakota extradition authorities. "We want him here; he escaped from (jail) here and we would like to try him here," said Sheriff's Lt. Robert Rivas.

The man who masterminded one of Orange County's largest jail breakouts is suspected of kidnaping a jewelry store manager in Chicago on Thursday night and making off with at least $450,000 in gold and diamonds, authorities said. Michael Douglas Taylor, 35, the lone fugitive from last November's five-man escape, was identified by the jewelry store manager early Friday morning after she escaped unharmed from her abductors, said Police Sgt.

Three men, including an alleged master jewel thief who planned a daring Orange County jailbreak last year, have been charged with the murder of a Burbank jeweler who was gunned down during a failed robbery in 1987, authorities said Tuesday. The three--all in California jails or prisons--are suspected of slaying T.W. Hamilton, 50, on July 9, 1987, in his jewelry store, Creme de Le Gem, on West Magnolia Boulevard.

Michael Lee Taylor, a suspected armed robber and jewel thief whose escape from Orange County Jail last year triggered a national manhunt, pleaded innocent Thursday to charges that he planned the daring breakout of five inmates from the jail roof. Taylor, 36, entered innocent pleas to charges of felony escape, kidnap and robbery and was ordered to appear before Municipal Judge James M. Brooks in Santa Ana on July 19 for a preliminary hearing on the escape-related charges.

An alleged master jewel thief who authorities believe masterminded the escape of five prisoners from Orange County Jail last year was returned to that jail Tuesday from South Dakota, where he was captured May 20. Michael Douglas Taylor, 36, suspected of a crime spree after his escape, now faces charges of robbery, kidnaping, rape, grand theft and escape. Taylor, who is also known as Michael Douglas Gianetti, will be arraigned Thursday, according to Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Larry Richey.

Jail escapee Michael Douglas Taylor, fighting extradition from South Dakota to California, told a judge Thursday he does not want to be sent to Orange County, where he fears for his life in County Jail. A spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which oversees the jail, called Taylor's claims "hogwash" and an attempt to solicit sympathy from South Dakota extradition authorities. "We want him here; he escaped from (jail) here and we would like to try him here," said Sheriff's Lt. Robert Rivas.

A prolific jewel thief and Orange County Jail escapee said Tuesday that he is willing to serve a long prison sentence in Illinois or Iowa but will fight extradition to Orange County because he fears he will never get out alive. "I ask Orange County not to kill me when I get there," said Michael Douglas Taylor. "I'm just a burglar. . . . All I really want to do in my life is 20 . . . years . . . then I won't do any more robberies. Why do they (in Orange County) want to give me 100 years, when I never killed nobody?

Michael Douglas Taylor, the alleged master jewel thief and Orange County fugitive captured here last weekend, may have had a sideline in his criminal career: He also robbed shoe stores, authorities say. Police here and in other cities said that Taylor is suspected of robbing shoe stores in Des Moines and Denver, as well as jewelry stores in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., West Des Moines, and River Grove, Ill., on his cross-country flight since he...

A prolific jewel thief and Orange County Jail escapee said Tuesday that he is willing to serve a long prison sentence in Illinois or Iowa but will fight extradition to Orange County because he fears he will never get out alive. "I ask Orange County not to kill me when I get there," said Michael Douglas Taylor. "I'm just a burglar. . . . All I really want to do in my life is 20 . . . years . . . then I won't do any more robberies. Why do they (in Orange County) want to give me 100 years, when I never killed nobody?

On a wall in his island home on Puget Sound, Michael Taylor hung a picture of himself posing in front of posters of the FBI's 10 Most Wanted fugitives. Police who searched the place saw it as an expression of an ambition, which they found unsettling. "It seemed like it would make his life to be on that 10 Most Wanted list," said Newport Beach Police Detective John Desmond. Today, Taylor may be a candidate for just such a distinction.

Michael Douglas Taylor, who allegedly led four other inmates in an escape from Orange County Jail last November, appeared in federal court today after his arrest here Saturday and said he "objected" to the charges against him. Taylor, suspected of robbing dozens of jewelry stores in several states, is being held without bond on charges that he fled California to avoid prosecution after the jailbreak. Dressed in dark green jail clothes, Taylor was led into court under heavy security.

Darcy Knight knew for sure he had passed up a real bargain. What he didn't know for sure was whom he had turned over to police. "I'm still trying to figure out who it was," Knight said Saturday evening, only hours after telephoning police from the Fair Deal Pawn and Gun shop in Rapid City, S.D. Thanks to Knight, Rapid City police arrested Michael Douglas Taylor, believed to be the mastermind of November's Orange County jailbreak....