BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — Authorities are seeking the whereabouts of an inmate mistakenly set free from the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Herbert Fletcher, 47, of Rockcastle Lane, Louisa, was released from the jail July 23 despite being held on a $5,000 cash bond stemming from June arrests on charges of driving under the influence and shoplifting.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Runyon said officials are still gathering information about exactly how the erroneous release occurred. He believes jail staff may have confused Fletcher’s current cash bond with a surety bond he had previously posted in an older criminal case.
Court records show Fletcher was indicted Dec. 8, 2022, on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine, and tampering with physical evidence. The court set a $5,000 cash bond Jan. 12, 2023, before changing it to a $5,000 surety bond Jan. 27, 2023. Fletcher posted the surety bond.
That bond became significant following Fletcher’s new arrests this summer.
The court record states that the previously posted bond was revoked due to a new arrest and that a new $5,000 cash bond was set June 11. A motion to reduce the bond was later denied June 25.
“This $5,000 surety bond only applied to the 2023 charges, and did not stand good for the June 2026 arrests,” Runyon said. “A $5,000 cash bond was set by the judge for the DUI and shoplifting charges and Mr. Fletcher remained in Big Sandy due to his inability to pay this amount.”
The mistaken release was discovered Aug. 11 when Fletcher was due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on the June charges, according to Runyon.
“The court contacted jail officials to inquire where the $5,000 was that the defendant would have had to post before being released,” Runyon said. “And that is when the error was found and we became aware that Mr. Fletcher was no longer incarcerated.”
The court issued a bench warrant Aug. 11 ordering Fletcher held without bond. The order specifically states: “NO BOND, DUE TO BSRDC RELEASING DEF IN ERROR.”
Runyon said he believes Fletcher knew a mistake had been made when he was released and left the detention center despite knowing he had not posted the required cash bond.
Previous assault case
Fletcher has also faced a previous violent charge in Lawrence County.
He was arrested in August 2022 on a first-degree assault charge in connection with the shooting of his wife, Kelly Fletcher. She suffered a gunshot wound to her upper torso. Kelly Fletcher later reportedly supported her husband’s claim that the shooting was accidental.
The felony charge was ultimately reduced to fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and Fletcher was placed on probation.
Runyon calls for safeguards
Runyon said the July release raises concerns about the procedures used to ensure inmates are legally entitled to leave custody.
“We all understand that human errors occur,” Runyon said. “But when you are dealing with inmates that have been sentenced or who are being held on charges pending a hearing, mistakes such as this cannot be made. Although Mr. Fletcher was arrested on nonviolent crimes, what if a prisoner who was considered a danger to society was accidentally released?”
Runyon said he does not know the detention center’s exact release procedures but suggested requiring multiple employees to review an inmate’s paperwork before authorizing a release.
“It would make sense to have more than one set of eyes on the paperwork before they are set free,” Runyon said. “The release form should also require more than one signature. That way, you are less apt to make this mistake if more than one staff member reviews everything. It is the smart thing to do, and definitely the safest.”
Attempts to reach Big Sandy Regional Detention Center Administrator Bryan Hansford and Intelligence Officer Austin Caudill for comment were unsuccessful.
Runyon asks anyone with information about Fletcher’s whereabouts to contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office at 606-638-4368 or Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland at 606-928-6421.