Convicted Killer Mistakenly Released From Jail

Benjuiel Johnson completed his time on three felony convictions at Louisiana’s Dixon Correctional Institute, and on September 22 was transferred to another jurisdiction where he faced charges in a separate case before being released. Officials noticed the error on Monday.

Investigators said the computer had shown that Johnson was slated to be released for good behavior based only on his other charges – and that the manslaughter conviction, which would have precluded any release, did not show up on his profile.

If the official had called, they would have discovered that Johnson was convicted of manslaughter there in 2013.

Johnson pleaded guilty in 2013 to manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the 2010 shooting death of Cordies Gales.

Johnson, described by an Iberville prosecutor as “a unsafe man”, was accidentally released from the East Feliciana Parish jail on September 22. “He’s a risky person, but we’re going to get him, we’re going to catch him”.

Stassi told the paper that he then called the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Abbeville Police said when Mitchell was indicted for first-degree murder they made sure the paperwork went to Avoyelles Parish.

Laborde said authorities tried to keep Johnson’s release under wraps so they could work several leads in hopes of finding him.

Stassi told the Advocate Johnson has family in Ibreville Parish, which is located south of Baton Rouge, but investigators had thus far been unable to locate him. “You all opened the doors and let him out of there”. “If he’s a smart man, which he probably isn’t, he should probably turn himself in, and if not-we’re going to use every resource available to take him off the streets”.

The incident comes right on the heels of news that another Louisiana inmate – this one awaiting a first-degree murder trial – was arrested after being mistakenly released.

Five days later, on Monday, Johnson was recognized in public.