Murder Suspect Released From State Prison System

Perdue Must Explain How Mistake Occurred

Raleigh, N.C. – According to news reports, a North Carolina man charged with murder in Wake County was mistakenly released after completing a previous sentence for drug-related crimes.  William “Jabo” Bryant was released from the Bertie Correctional Institution last week instead of being properly transferred to Wake County.  Deputies arrested Bryant in February of this year.  He and his brother, Eric Reney Bryant, were charged with first degree murder in the 1999 death of Anthony Jaboin, a cab driver who was shot in the face with a shotgun in the parking lot of West Lake Elementary School in Apex.  Wake County Sherriff Donnie Harrison says he filed paperwork for Bryant to be detained and sent to Wake County to face the murder charge.  “State prison spokesman Keith Acree says officials never received the documents.  Prison workers are also supposed to check state court records to verify there are no pending charges and Acree says authorities are investigating the circumstances of Bryant’s release.”  (“Murder suspect mistakenly released from prison,” Winston-Salem Journal, 4/7/10)

The mistake follows months of stories about lost probationers wreaking havoc while on the loose in North Carolina and repeated questions about the Perdue administration’s commitment to public safety and the justice system.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:

“This kind of error is completely unacceptable and puts the people of North Carolina at risk.  I hope North Carolina’s law enforcement officers apprehend Jabo Bryant before he has the chance to commit another crime.  Governor Perdue needs to tell the public how this was allowed to happen, who was responsible, and explain how she plans to prevent other accused murderers from being mistakenly released.”

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