BUFFALO, NY - How did a mixup at Buffalo City Court lead to the wrong man being released on bail? It happened earlier this week and thankfully that man later turned himself in. A 2 on Your Side viewer, who was in court for another case Tuesday morning, noticed confusion in the courtroom. She sent us a Facebook message saying she heard an attorney say a person was mistakenly released on bail. Our viewer was right..
Officials with the Erie County Holding Center say it was because a bail bondsman filled out the wrong name and information on the bail application to City Court. We're told that application was signed with the official seal and presented to Holding Center officials who released the person with that official paperwork. But again that person was not technically eligible for bail at that point.
Erie County Holding Center Superintendent Thomas Diina says "Obviously the bondsman intended to bail somebody out. But for whatever reason did not bail out the individual they intended to bail out."
We asked "So do you think there can be another step of verification here at this point ?
Diina responded "There is no other step that I can add in the jail management division. We have a very exhaustive process for releasing prisoners from custody. So I don't think there's anything more that the sheriff's office can do. But again I would absolutely assist the City Court in any way possible to help them figure out a way to make sure this kind of error does not happen."
Now the person who was released by mistake was contacted and turned himself back in to the court later that day.
He was later released on his own recognizance and Superintendent Diina says he was not violent..
He was actually facing misdemeanor charges of possession of stolen property.
City Court Supervising Judge Thomas Amodeo also says they are looking into the matter to determine if anything else should be done. He said it's the first time he has ever heard of this type of thing happening in the city court system. The New York State Office of Court Administration is also reviewing this incident.
