Worker error led to release
A veteran civilian employee of the North Las Vegas Police Department was responsible for a violent felon being released from jail hours before a court appearance.
The employee is believed to have made a clerical error, which allowed Jesse Lee Earhart, 36, to walk out of jail Wednesday morning, said spokesman Tim Bedwell.
"It was our fault," he said.
The female employee has worked for the Police Department at the North Las Vegas Detention Center for the past 11 years, Bedwell said. He declined to identify the employee.
Earhart, most recently of Henderson, was booked into the jail on Tuesday by U.S. marshals. But by 6:50 a.m. Wednesday, Earhart was gone.
Earhart has an extensive criminal history, including firearm violations, in the Las Vegas Valley and in California.
He is considered dangerous and might be armed. He has family ties in the valley, and police said there was a good chance he was still in the area.
Earhart is white and 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 160 pounds with hazel eyes and light brown hair.
He is wanted for violation of supervised release based on a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555 or the U.S. Marshals Service at 388-6356.
