Texas authorities are actively searching for Tory Dugas, a 36-year-old man who was mistakenly released from Harris County jail just as he was set to begin a seven-year sentence for serious charges. Dugas had been sentenced to five years for assaulting a family member along with an additional two years for evading arrest. Instead of serving his time, he was released around 4:30 AM on Sunday after being held in jail on unrelated charges that had since been dismissed.
According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, a preliminary investigation suggests that jail staff may have failed to properly document Dugas's state prison sentence in his file. This documentation error led to the assumption that he was eligible for release. The issue only came to light when officials conducted their routine check on Monday morning, reviewing the names of inmates scheduled for transfer to state custody.
Authorities have urged anyone who spots Dugas to contact the police immediately. This incident is not an isolated case; earlier this year, the Harris County jail also mistakenly released a man charged with capital murder due to a mix-up with another individual having the same name. Fortunately, that man turned himself in after just 24 hours of freedom. The Harris County Sheriff's Office is now under public scrutiny as they work to address the issues in their processes to prevent future errors.
