Three Violent Offenders Mistakenly Set Free From Jail

When a judicial assistant called to remind authorities three gang members had a court date, the jail realized they had been released

They did not have a get out of jail free card. But three men accused of violent gang-related activity were mistakenly set free from the Palm Beach County Jail on Tuesday, and two remain at large.

Bail for each had been set at $1 million, but jail records show charges were dropped before new charges appeared in the system. The trio were released Tuesday, and were noticed missing when a judicial assistant called the jail to remind staff the men were due in court Friday.

Jail authorities were unable to find the men.

That means the mishap was not noticed for two days, yet the judge who gave three county agencies 30 days to figure out what happened says no one should start pointing fingers.

"I think the biggest mistake someone can make is jump to conclusions," said Circuit Judge John Kastrenakes.

Perhaps someone should jump to lock their doors instead, because, you know, the Palm Beach County jail just mistakenly released three violent offenders.

But one has already been caught, and another has agreed to turn himself in on Monday.

The trio, Tavaris Herndon, 27, and Marquis Roundtree, 18, of Riviera Beach; and James Roundtree, 21, of West Palm Beach, were indicted as members of the Buck Wild Gang, a group who were first noticed by law enforcement in 1998. A multi-agency, two-year investigation ended with their arrests, and those of five others, in April.

"He was under the mistaken impression that he was dismissed," said Herndon's lawyer, Peter Grable. His client met with authorities to turn himself in on Friday. James Roundtree will turn himself in on Monday.

The jail denies responsibility for the mistake, saying they merely followed paperwork.

Prosecutor Greg Kridos summed up the mishap with a classic understatement: "It's not a perfect system."

Contact Us