McCaslin

Following a jury trial, appellant Ricky Allen McCaslin was convicted of felony escape in violation of Penal Code section 4532, subdivision (b). After further jury proceedings, appellant was found sane at the time of the offense. Outside the presence of the jury, appellant admitted three prior felony convictions. He was sentenced to serve two years in state prison, consecutive to another sentence being served, with 16 months of his sentence ordered stayed pending appeal. Two additional years were imposed for two of the prior prison terms, with these two years also ordered stayed pending appeal and service of sentence in other actions. A timely notice of appeal was filed.

Appellant contends: (1) an intrajail mail letter was improperly admitted into evidence; (2) the jury was erroneously instructed on the law of insanity; and (3) the trial court erroneously restricted defense testimony during the sanity phase. We affirm the judgment.

I. Facts

The facts underlying the offense may be simply stated. On February 1, 1983, appellant was in lawful custody of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, having been charged with a felony. On that date, appellant was one of seven…