Harris County officials are investigating the mistaken release of a convict who should have started serving a sentence for assault and evading arrest.
**Texas Authorities on the Hunt for Convict Released in Error**
**Texas Authorities on the Hunt for Convict Released in Error**
Police look for Tory Dugas, freed too soon ahead of seven-year sentence.
Texas law enforcement is currently on the lookout for Tory Dugas, 36, who was released from jail by mistake despite being sentenced to seven years for serious charges. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Dugas was sentenced to five years for assaulting a family member and an additional two for evading arrest.
Instead of beginning his sentence, Dugas was released around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday after being held at the Harris County jail on unrelated charges, which had recently been dismissed. A statement from the sheriff's office noted that a thorough investigation has been initiated, focusing on the mishap that led to his "erroneous release." Preliminary findings suggest that jail staff failed to properly document Dugas's state prison sentence in his records, leading to the misunderstanding that he was eligible for release.
Authorities only realized Dugas's absence on Monday morning while reviewing the list of inmates scheduled for transfer to state custody. Police spokesperson Jason Spencer indicated that they are asking the public to report any sightings of Dugas, who is now a fugitive.
This incident marks a troubling pattern for the Harris County jail, which has faced similar mistakes in the past. Earlier this year, a man charged with capital murder was mistakenly released due to a case of mistaken identity. In that instance, the individual turned himself in after being free for 24 hours.
