NOMAD FOUND, JAILED MAN ON RUN FROM COURT DATE ENDED UP FLEEING BEAR, TOO.

Byline: Holly Edwards and Orith Goldberg Staff Writers

GORMAN - A 25-year-old transient who survived in a remote canyon for more than a month apparently had ventured into the wilderness to kill himself rather than face a court hearing on drug and weapon charges, officials said Tuesday.

Sean Bernard Kelly told rescuers he had survived by eating insects and plant roots and had thrown his only jacket at a bear that was chasing him.

Deputies, called to the area weeks before when Kelly's car was found there, had spotted footprints with bear tracks behind them.

Then on Monday, a hunter found Kelly deep in the Angeles National Forest east of Gorman, suffering from exposure and dehydration - but alive.

``We expected the worst, but he fought back,'' said Deputy Ron Bosket of the Sheriff's Department Missing Persons Bureau. ``He was lucky.''

Kelly was airlifted Monday from Knapp Ranch Canyon, about 30 miles north of Santa Clarita, to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. While he was being treated, sheriff's deputies discovered he was wanted in Ventura County on an outstanding arrest warrant.

They then transported him to the medical center at the Los Angeles County Jail, where he remained Tuesday, Bosket said.

Kelly was arrested Feb. 19 in Ventura on suspicion of misdemeanor charges of driving while impaired and possession of a firearm in a vehicle, and a felony charge of being under the influence of methamphetamine while possessing a loaded firearm, according to court records.

He was released the same day after posting $25,000 bail and was ordered to appear in court Feb. 28, records show. Kelly failed to appear, however, and a warrant for his arrest was issued Sept. 29, the scheduled date of his pretrial conference. Court officials say the felony trial was set to start Oct. 6.

On Sept. 30, Kelly's car was found at Saw Mill Campground near Gorman with a hose leading from the tailpipe to an empty tent. The car was running and the tent was sealed tightly, but no one was in the area, officials said.

Dozens of sheriff's deputies used dogs and a helicopter to comb the area, but found no one.

Kelly had apparently been living in his car just before his father reported him missing Sept. 24, Bosket said.

After abandoning his car - as well as his apparent attempt to kill himself - Kelly walked several miles and became lost in the rugged canyons surrounding the campground about 30 miles north of Santa Clarita, officials said.

When he was found Monday, Kelly was emaciated and too weak to walk, said Deputy-Paramedic Dave Rathbun, adding that the missing man ``looked like something out of a World War II picture.''

Staff Writer David Greenberg contributed to this story.

CAPTION(S):

map