Sheriff: Issue of mistakenly released inmate addressed internally

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton announced the results of an internal review meeting on Wednesday

Singleton said the issue was addressed "internally."

Lauderdale County officials say Michael Prater was serving time in the state prison for child abuse charges when he was transported back to Lauderdale County last week to be sentenced for an escape charge. Prater was sentenced to 15 years for the escape charge, and returned to the Lauderdale County Detention Center.

On March 18, the Alabama Department of Corrections forwarded paperwork notifying the jail Prater was to be released on probation. Authorities were  unaware of his recent sentence and released him Thursday morning.

Prater was captured in the Cloverdale area and returned to the jail on Friday night, about 36 hours after he was mistakenly released.

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