Authorities in Houston launched a widespread search for a convicted felon who walked out of jail due to an apparent paperwork mix-up.
According to a New York Post report, Troy Dugas, 36, gained unintended freedom from Harris County Jail early Sunday morning around 4:30 a.m. when staff overlooked his pending prison sentences. The error stemmed from what officials suspect were mislabeled documents or inadequate file updates, allowing him to leave after local charges against him were dropped.
Dugas had been held in the facility since Aug. 14 on those unspecified Harris County charges, which authorities later dismissed without realizing he faced additional time elsewhere. He was scheduled to start a five-year term for assaulting a family member in Fort Bend County, plus a concurrent two-year sentence for evading arrest in Brazoria County.
Repeated Errors at Houston Facility
The Harris County Sheriff's Office announced on Monday that a full probe would examine how the mistaken release occurred, with initial findings pointing to incomplete records. “A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances that led to Dugas’ erroneous release from jail,” the office stated in its press release.
Deputies explained that jail personnel failed to note Dugas's state prison obligations in his file, creating the false impression he qualified for discharge once the local cases ended. “Preliminary indications are that jail staff did not properly document his state prison sentence on his file, leading to the mistaken assumption that Dugas was eligible for release once his Harris County charges were dismissed,” according to the same release.
Law enforcement described Dugas as a Black man standing over 6 feet tall and weighing about 215 pounds, with a distinctive tattoo on his neck. They advised the public to avoid approaching him and to report any sightings directly to authorities for immediate response.
Echoes of February Inmate Mix-Up
This incident marks the second major release error at Harris County Jail within six months, raising concerns about systemic issues in inmate processing. In February, staff erroneously freed Justin Tompkins, 21, after confusing him with another prisoner sharing the same name during a clerical oversight.
Tompkins, charged with capital murder for allegedly shooting a man fatally during a robbery tied to drugs in December 2022, alerted jail workers to the mistake before exiting. Despite his warnings, the release proceeded, prompting a quick search that ended when he turned himself in roughly 24 hours later.
His attorney, Spence Graham, highlighted the unusual nature of the event in comments to media outlets. “He was telling him before he was even checked out that this was a mistake,” Graham said.
Public Safety Risks Highlighted
Graham further expressed disbelief at the oversight, suggesting it could alarm local residents. “I think that the citizens of Harris County might be surprised that somebody would do that,” he added regarding Tompkins's ignored alerts.
For Dugas, the sheriff's office emphasized the potential danger posed by his history of violence, including the family assault conviction. The manhunt involves multiple agencies coordinating efforts to locate and recapture him before any further incidents occur.
Unlike Tompkins, who returned voluntarily, Dugas has not resurfaced, intensifying the search across Houston and surrounding areas. Officials noted that his release happened despite clear records of the pending sentences from other counties, underscoring the need for better documentation protocols.
Dugas Search Intensifies Ahead
Troy Dugas, convicted of assaulting a relative and fleeing from police in separate Texas counties, escaped custody from Harris County Jail in Houston on Sunday due to staff failing to record his prison terms properly. The mistake allowed him to leave after dismissal of minor local charges, despite obligations for five and two years in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties, respectively.
Authorities have initiated a detailed review to uncover why the error repeated a similar blunder from February, aiming to prevent future lapses in a facility handling high-risk inmates. The ongoing manhunt focuses on public tips, given Dugas's physical description and potential whereabouts in the region.
This case, linked to clerical oversights like the mix-up with Justin Tompkins, who was wrongly freed and later returned, may lead to procedural changes at the jail. Officials expect Dugas's recapture through coordinated law enforcement efforts, with possible additional charges if he resists or commits new offenses while at large.
