“As always, the primary concern of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office is the protection of the citizens we serve,” the agency said in a news release Tuesday. “It is likely ‘human error’ by our employees played a part during this release.”
Shannon Owens was being held at the jail on suspicion of violating his parole. Officials say on Friday, the 31-year-old posed as another inmate who was being released and was thus mistakenly set free.
He was arrested without incident on Sunday morning at a motel off of Interstate 76 northeast of metro Denver. The sheriff’s office said it launched an “exhaustive search” to find him.
Back in the Adams County jail by Sunday night, Owens faces an additional charge for escape.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation records show Owens has a long criminal history in the state dating back to 2004, which includes convictions for trespassing and aggravated robbery. He also was charged with attempted homicide, although prosecutors dismissed that allegation.
Colorado Department of Corrections records show Owens was due to be discharged from parole in June 2018. It appears he was on parole for the aggravated robbery case — from 2008 — in which he pleaded guilty in 2009, according to CBI.
