Convicted Killer Mistakenly Released in Louisiana: Officials

Officials say a convicted killer was accidentally released from a Louisiana prison because of a computer glitch, and an arrest warrant has been issued for him.

WAFB-TV reports that local police and U.S. marshals are searching for 32-year-old Benjuel Johnson. He was released Sept. 23 from the Dixon Correctional Institute. Officials noticed the error on Monday.

The Department of Corrections says apparently Johnson was being released on good behavior for prior charges. When officials ran his name through the system, a manslaughter conviction did not appear, so they let him go.

Johnson pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the slaying of 31-year-old Cordies Gales, who was found shot to death in September 2010. He was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years in prison on that charge.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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