An escaped federal prisoner and suspected bank robber called a radio station Monday and claimed that he escaped using a handcuffs key sold to him by a prison guard who is "a criminal."

Byron Shane Chubbuck, who escaped from a federal transport van in the North Valley in December, is suspected of several bank robberies since his escape. He told a KZRR-FM disc jockey that he would surrender only if a corrections officer at Santa Fe County's jail was arrested and convicted, and if a federal agent admits to attempting to murder him.

The conversation with disc jockey T.J. Trout was recorded Monday afternoon. It followed the radio station's receipt of correspondence from someone claiming to be Chubbuck. Similar claims were made in the correspondence.

FBI agents confirmed to Action 7 News that the person with whom Trout spoke was the suspected bank robber.

Chubbuck told Trout that, when he was arrested on suspicion of bank robbery in 1999, a federal agent attempted to kill him rather than arrest him, and that he believed the man to be an intruder in his home at the time of the shootout.

Chubbuck said the agent must admit to attempting to murder him as one requirement before he will surrender.

"That agent (must say in) a public announcement that he did in fact try to murder me," Chubbuck said. "(Then) it's all good. 'Cause they did, dude."

The other requirement concerned a guard at Santa Fe County's jail, where Chubbuck was housed while awaiting trial. The guard, who Chubbuck said sold him the key he used to escape his handcuffs in the federal transport van, abused prisoners, Chubbuck claimed.

"He beats inmates, he gasses them, he chains them up and beats them, leaves them secluded with shackles and chains for sometimes days or many numerous hours," Chubbuck said of the guard. "He's a criminal."

Chubbuck didn't say whether he had been abused by a guard.

Chubbuck expressed nervousness during the three-minute conversation, asking Trout whether he was trying "to bust" him. Chubbuck also reported hearing a helicopter near his location during the interview, and asked Trout whether it was "the feds."

Trout assured Chubbuck that he was only attempting to allow Chubbuck an opportunity to tell his side of the story. On Tuesday morning, Trout told Action 7 News that he would be willing to serve as an intermediary if it would help bring the manhunt to an end.

Chubbuck's mother told reporters last week that she doubts her son will be captured alive.