Nash County deputies first arrested Ricky Smith for a series of car break-ins. Court records show Smith was convicted on Feb. 15 and sentenced to 11 to 14 months in prison.
Investigators said Smith was released by mistake. On Feb. 22, he was arrested for robbing a bank in Nash County and attempting to rob a bank in Wilson County.
Maj. Dennis Lyons, of the Nash County Sheriff's Office, said jailers released Smith because they read paperwork saying his punishment was supposed to be 36 months supervised probation. Lyons said they failed to read the line above it saying that Smith was supposed to serve jail time first.
Lyons said, as a result of this incident, the Nash County Sheriff's Office is working to change some of its checks and balances when it comes to paperwork. He said the jailers involved will likely face disciplinary action.
Smith is currently in the Nash County Jail.
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