Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 4, 1990 TAG: 9005040932
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Medium
Sheriff James Dunning said today that the third inmate, identified as James R. Haskins, 28, of Alexandria, was recaptured on Thursday - more than two weeks after his deputies mistakenly released him because of a paperwork foul-up.
Haskins, who was being held on a Fairfax County conviction, wasn't discovered missing until Wednesday.
Dunning said in a statement today that paperwork that accompanied Haskins' transfer from the Fairfax County Detention Center, indicating he had three years to serve, was misplaced on his arrival in Alexandria.
Haskins had been transferred to Alexandria to face charges of grand larceny and driving on a suspended driver's license, which were later dropped.
"When these charges were dropped, and in the absence of documents indicating his time remaining to be served, he was released," the sheriff's statement said.
Haskins is to be taken today to Fairfax County, according to a woman at the Alexandria jail records section. Dunning said Haskins was serving time for grand larceny, committed in Fairfax County.
"This is absolutely intolerable," Dunning said of the mistake. He said human error was responsible for all three releases.
"From what I understand, the three mistakes in the last month or so are different," Dunning said.
In the most recent case, "A piece of paper - a document - did not get to our records office," Dunning said.
In the first two cases, the wrong men were released because of name mix-ups.
On March 13, accused murderer John Ashby was released instead of John Asbury, a petty thief.
Ashby was to be held for sentencing on a drug charge in Alexandria, then be taken to Prince George's County, Md., to face a murder charge.
Dunning waited 24 hours before announcing the mistake publicly. Ashby was recaptured a week later in Washington. Dunning said he waited to release information on the Ashby case - technically an escape - because he did not want to tip off Ashby that he had been released mistakenly.
On March 23, deputies released William Lee "Puddin" Tyler, a career criminal being held on a parole violation, because Tyler had told jail officials his name was William James Tyler.
William James Tyler, Tyler's brother, had no criminal record. Because of this, William Lee Tyler was ordered released on personal bond.
by CNB