2 days ago
Cleveland County sheriff takes 'full responsibility' for inmate's mistaken release
NORMAN — A convicted robber was released by mistake in April from the Cleveland County Detention Center, the sheriff confirmed.
Michael Sean Bodnar, 41, of Norman, was in jail awaiting trial on a kidnapping charge.
Sheriff Chris Amason blamed a clerical error.
"I take full responsibility for it. We are going to get him back in custody, and he will face his day in court," the sheriff said Thursday, June 5.
The sheriff said safeguards have been put in place "to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"We process in and out about 60 people a day. Human error does happen," he said. "My deputies are out looking for him."
The release came after Bodnar agreed on April 28 that he violated his probation in the robbery case. Cleveland County District Judge Michael Tupper had set a hearing for July 14 to determine how long he should go back to prison.
The judge issued arrest warrants on Tuesday after learning of the mistake. He directed the sheriff's office to locate Bodnar and notify him immediately when the defendant was back in custody.
The judge said in court records that he was advised Bodnar was erroneously released from custody "due to a misinterpretation" by the jail administration of his April 28 order.
The sheriff acknowledged an employee misinterpreted what was on a form and failed to confirm what actually needed to be done.
"As sheriff, everything that happens here is ultimately my responsibility. I can assure the people of Cleveland County we have identified where the failure was and taken corrective measures."
Cleveland County's new district attorney, Jennifer Austin, said she has communicated with the sheriff, the judge and the defense attorney "to try to resolve the situation and get Mr. Bodnar back in custody where he belongs."
More: Police announce rearrest of Oklahoma County jail detainee after mistaken release
Bodnar was sentenced in 2020 in his robbery case to two years in prison and eight years on probation. Norman police reported he robbed a Pizza Hut worker outside the restaurant in 2019.
He was charged in 2023 with kidnapping, burglary and domestic assault and battery by strangulation. A former girlfriend told police he kicked in the door of her apartment a week after they broke up, choked her and pulled her hair to prevent her from leaving, police reported.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Inmate released from Cleveland County Oklahoma jail by mistake
