Texas Authorities Launch Search for Convict Released in Error

Tory Dugas was released by mistake just before beginning a seven-year sentence for assault and evading arrest, prompting a search by Texas police.

Texas law enforcement officials are actively searching for a convict who was inadvertently released from Harris County Jail. Tory Dugas, aged 36, was originally sentenced to seven years in state prison after being found guilty of assaulting a family member, along with a two-year sentence for evading arrest. Instead of serving his time, Dugas was released early on Sunday at approximately 04:30 local time.

According to reports from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, a thorough investigation has been initiated to uncover the cause of this “erroneous release.” Preliminary findings suggest a failure to properly document Dugas's state prison sentence in his records, which led officials to mistakenly believe he was eligible for release.

The jail staff only realized Dugas was missing on Monday morning during routine checks of inmates slated for transfer to state custody. Police spokesperson Jason Spencer told the Houston Chronicle that this unfortunate oversight has raised concerns, especially since the Harris County Jail has faced similar incidents previously. Earlier this year, a man charged with capital murder was released in error due to a case of mistaken identity.

Authorities are urging the public to report any sightings of Dugas, as they continue their search for the individual who should have been in custody.