A 26-year-old Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate is facing escape charges after he was caught trying to climb over a fence at the prison yesterday morning, police said.

The man was with a group of inmates returning from recreation when he started climbing the fence, said Michael Hoffman, Department of Public Safety Institutions Division administrator.

Hoffman said the inmate responded to verbal directives to come down.

Court records indicate the inmate was in OCCC awaiting trial on sex assault charges.