BY ANNIE HOLLER
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
PAINTSVILLE — A Big Sandy Regional Detention Center inmate who wrote “Come get me” on Facebook after his mistaken release is back behind bars after turning himself in to a Prestonsburg police officer.
Herbert Ray Fletcher, 47, of Rockcastle Lane in Louisa, surrendered Aug. 19 after spending nearly a month free because of a jail release error.
A bench warrant had been issued after court officials discovered Fletcher was no longer in custody when arrangements were made to transport him to Lawrence Circuit Court.
Fletcher had been held on a $5,000 bond stemming from a 2022 case involving charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and tampering with physical evidence.
He was arrested again in June on charges of shoplifting and driving under the influence.
At some point, the bond in the 2022 case was changed from surety to full cash. However, when Fletcher satisfied the time-served requirement on the June charges, a booking employee failed to recognize the cash-bond requirement in the older case and released him July 23, according to Lawrence County Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Runyon.
Runyon said the mistake came to light when a transport order was sent to the detention center for Fletcher to appear in Lawrence Circuit Court.
Court officials questioned why the required $5,000 cash bond was not on record and learned Fletcher had been released without paying it.
Officials then issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
After The Mountain Citizen reported that authorities were seeking Fletcher, he responded publicly on Facebook.
“Come get me,” Fletcher wrote in one comment.
While Fletcher remained out of custody, a Kermit, West Virginia, woman also sought a personal protective order against him in Mingo County Magistrate Court, alleging harassment and stalking.
Mingo County Sheriff Joe Smith said the prosecuting attorney was reviewing the matter for possible criminal charges.
Fletcher ended his time at large Aug. 19 when he approached a Prestonsburg police officer and surrendered. He was initially booked into the Floyd County jail before being transferred back to the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Runyon said the mistaken release highlights the need for stronger procedures before inmates are discharged from custody.
He said more than one employee should review release paperwork to reduce the chance of a similar mistake.
“It would make sense to have more than one set of eyes on the paperwork before they’re set free,” Runyon said. “The release form should also require more than one signature.”
Runyon said errors involving inmate releases can have serious consequences when public safety is at stake.
Calls to Big Sandy Regional Detention Center Administrator Byron Hansford seeking information about the jail’s inmate-release procedures went unanswered.