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| Wrongly Released Inmate Gets 47 Years |
| By Richmond Times-Dispatch |
| Published: 02/20/2006 |
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Travis D. "Truck" Jones, who had been convicted of two first-degree murders, walked out of Riverside, Virginia Regional Jail last Saturday morning, two days before he was to be sentenced for his role in what prosecutors described as a drug deal gone bad. He turned himself in early that afternoon. Jones' defense attorney, John McGarvey, said he believed his client's actions Saturday helped, rather than hurt, him in court yesterday. Prosecutors were seeking a sentence of life in prison. "It says something about his character," McGarvey said. Jones, 21, was released from the Hopewell facility at 9:20 a.m., after a sergeant in charge confused him with an inmate who also has the name Travis D. Jones. "Procedure was not followed," Darnley R. Hodge Sr., superintendent of Riverside Regional Jail, said yesterday during a news conference. "The fact is we made a mistake. I am admitting we made a mistake." Hodge said the jail has step-by-step procedures for releasing an inmate. The last step, he said, is to verify the inmate being released with the picture in the file. That was not done on Saturday, Hodge said. "It was a human error that should not have occurred," he said. "We want the public to know the jail is safe. This has never happened before." Hodge said he is still reviewing the matter and that disciplinary action will be taken. He did not elaborate. He added, however, that the jail will not be changing any of its procedures. "Had staff checked the picture in the file, he would not have released the wrong person," Hodge said. After jail staff members realized a mistake had been made, they notified state and local police and Jones' family, he said. Hodge said they asked Jones' parents to talk to him and persuade him to turn himself in. Jones surrendered that afternoon after having had a meal at his father's home. |
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