Latest news with #TroyDugas
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Texas man with 5-year prison sentence mistakenly released from Houston jail, manhunt underway
Authorities near Houston are searching for a man who they say was mistakenly released from jail early Sunday morning. According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, 36-year-old Troy Dugas was erroneously released around 4:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 after being held in the Harris County Jail. "Preliminary indications are that jail staff did not properly document his state prison sentence in his file, leading to the mistaken assumption that Dugas was eligible for release once his Harris County charges were dismissed," the sheriff's office said in a press release Monday. Dugas had been sentenced to five years in state prison for assaulting a family member in Fort Bend County and two years for evading arrest in Brazoria County, deputies said. Dugas had also been in the Harris County Jail since Aug. 14 on additional local charges that were later dismissed. Authorities described Dugas as a Black male, 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 215 pounds, with a tattoo on his neck. Officials are urging anyone who sees him to call 911. "A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances that led to Dugas' erroneous release from jail," This is not the first time an inmate has been mistakenly released from the Harris County Jail, according to CBS affiliate KHOU in Houston. On Feb. 20, Justin Tompkins, 21, who was facing capital murder charges and being held on $750,000 bail since December 2022, was released due to a case of mistaken identity. Jail staff confused him with another inmate of the same name, authorities said. The error was discovered the next day, prompting a search by deputies. Tompkins voluntarily surrendered about 24 hours later, at 8:40 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21.
New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
Manhunt Underway After Texas Jail Mistakenly Releases Inmate
A manhunt was underway in Harris County, Texas, on Tuesday after a clerical error led to the accidental release of an inmate over the weekend, according to the authorities. It was the second time this year that the jail had accidentally released an inmate facing felony charges. Troy Dugas, 36, who had been serving a five-year sentence for assault, was accidentally released from the Harris County Jail in Houston on Sunday around 4:30 a.m., the Harris County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Mr. Dugas was booked into the Harris County Jail on Aug. 14 for separate charges that have since been dismissed, the deputies said. He was supposed to be transferred to a state prison to start his sentence for assault, said Jason Spencer, a spokesman for the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Jail staff appeared not to have properly documented his state prison sentence in his file, leading to the 'mistaken assumption' that he was eligible for release, the sheriff's office said. A jail employee realized the mistake while reviewing records Monday morning, Mr. Spencer said. Mr. Dugas had been serving a five-year sentence for family violence assault impeding breathing or circulation and a two-year sentence for evading arrest, according to court records and the sheriff's office. Mr. Dugas had initially been sentenced to three years' probation for the assault charge, said Wesley Wittig, an assistant district attorney for Fort Bend County. But his probation was revoked after he was arrested for additional charges, including evading arrest in Brazoria County, another assault charge in Harris County, and failing to pay several fines, Mr. Wittig said. A judge resentenced him to five years in prison, Mr. Wittig said. The sheriff's office did not specify which county charges were dismissed. A lawyer for Mr. Dugas did not return a request for comment. The sheriff's office asks anyone who sees Mr. Dugas to call 911. It was the second time this year that Harris County Jail had mistakenly released an inmate. In February Justin Tompkins, 21, facing a capital murder charge, was erroneously released when jail staff 'mistook Tomkins for another inmate with the same name,' the sheriff's office said in a news release at the time. Mr. Tompkins turned himself in a day after being released and as a search was underway, the authorities said. A lawyer for Mr. Tompkins told The Houston Chronicle that Mr. Tompkins had tried to tell jail workers the release appeared to have been a mistake. Mr. Tompkins had been arrested and booked into the jail in December 2022 after being accused of shooting a man during a robbery involving narcotics, authorities said. His case is still pending, according to court records.
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
Manhunt underway for Texas man 'mistakenly' released before serving 5 year prison sentence
Authorities are searching for a Texas man that was "mistakenly" released from jail before he was set to serve a 5 year state prison sentence. Troy Dugas, 36, was "mistakenly released from jail on Sunday" afternoon, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said Monday in a news release that included his mugshot. The sheriff's office said that Dugas was "due to begin serving a 5-year state prison sentence for assaulting a family member" and a 2-year sentence for evading arrest. Both incidents occurred in counties just outside of Houston, according to the release. Authorities added that Dugas was in the Harris County Jail since August 14 "on additional local charges that were subsequently dismissed" before his release on Sunday. 'A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances that led to Dugas' erroneous release from jail,' the sheriff's office said in a statement. 'Preliminary indications are that jail staff did not properly document his state prison sentence in his file, leading to the mistaken assumption that Dugas was eligible for release once his Harris County charges were dismissed." The sheriff's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment seeking additional information. Authorities described him as a 6'1' 215 pound Black man, and said he has a tattoo on his neck. They advised anyone who is aware of his whereabouts or sights him to call 911.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Texas Jail Frees Convicted Domestic Abuser by Mistake, Manhunt Underway
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A manhunt is underway after a convicted domestic abuser was "mistakenly released" in Texas on Sunday afternoon. Troy Dugas was shown out of the Harris County Jail in downtown Houston at about 4:30 p.m. after a paperwork error, according to local media reports citing the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). The 36-year-old was supposed to be starting a 5-year prison term, but instead walked free from the Harris County Jail after officials accidentally released him. Troy Dugas, 36, was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. Troy Dugas, 36, was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. HCSO/X The sheriff's office shared Dugas' mugshot on social media platform X, saying: "Please be on the lookout for Troy Dugas, 36. Deputies are searching for Dugas after he was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Please call 911 to report sightings." Please be on the lookout for Troy Dugas, 36. Deputies are searching for Dugas after he was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Please call 911 to report sightings. — HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) August 18, 2025 They added: "Dugas was due to begin serving a 5-year state prison sentence for assaulting a family member in Fort Bend County and a 2-year sentence for evading arrest in Brazoria County. He is a black male, 215 pounds, 6'1"." Newsweek has reached out by email to HCSO seeking further information and comment. This is a developing story and will be updated. Anyone seeking help should call The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a free and confidential hotline available 24/7 that can be reached on 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. The Hotline also provides information on local resources. For more information, visit
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Prisoner accidentally released from jail before his sentencing
Houston police have launched a manhunt for Troy Dugas, 36, who was mistakenly released from Harris County Jail. Dugas was released on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. due to an error by jail staff. He was due to begin a five-year state prison sentence for assaulting a family member and a two-year sentence for evading arrest. Jail employees failed to properly document his state prison sentence, leading them to believe he was eligible for release after other charges were dismissed. The Harris County Sheriff's Office has initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Dugas' erroneous release.
