Protection case surfaces Monday in neighboring county
BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — Authorities are still seeking Herbert Ray Fletcher after the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center mistakenly released him July 23. Meanwhile, a new case involving allegations of harassment and stalking has surfaced against him in neighboring Mingo County, West Virginia.
Fletcher, 47, of Rockcastle Lane, Louisa, was released for time served in four cases. However, those cases were unrelated to Lawrence Circuit Court case 22-CR-00157, which remains pending.
That case stems from Fletcher’s 2022 arrest on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense (methamphetamine) and tampering with physical evidence. A Lawrence County grand jury indicted him Dec. 8, 2022.
Lawrence Circuit Judge J. Kevin Holbrook issued an arrest warrant Aug. 11. The judge’s order states the warrant was issued “due to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center releasing him in error.” It directs that Fletcher be held without bond pending further court orders.
Court records show a $5,000 cash bond was set in the 2022 case Jan. 12, 2023, before the court changed it to a $5,000 surety bond Jan. 27, 2023. Fletcher posted the surety bond. The bond was later revoked following a new arrest, and the court set a new $5,000 cash bond June 11. The court denied a motion to reduce the bond June 25.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Runyon said officials are gathering information about how the release occurred.
“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.”
He said the release raises concerns about safeguards used to determine whether an inmate is 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 suggested requiring more than one employee to review release paperwork and sign off before an inmate leaves the detention center.
Protection case in Mingo
Meanwhile, Mingo County Magistrate Court on Monday set a hearing in a personal protection case in which a Kermit woman alleges Fletcher harassed and stalked her.
The hearing is set for Aug. 24.
Mingo County Sheriff Joe Smith said additional charges are pending in connection with the allegations.
Anyone with information about Fletcher’s whereabouts may contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office at 606-638-4368 or Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland at 606-928-6421.