Our Mistake...Your Problem

Washington County, Oregon hits on an ingenious device to extend prison time for its inmates; release them early:

HILLSBORO -- Nathan Brown's get-out-of-jail-free pass was good for less than seven hours Friday after Washington County sheriff's deputies realized he had been released by mistake.

....Nathaniel Browne, 19, was the inmate who was due to be released Friday after serving his time for violating probation on a third-degree theft conviction.

Instead, James said Nathan Brown, 22, was let out about 1:45 a.m. Friday. He also was serving time for a third-degree theft probation violation.

....Although Brown might have thought he was pretty lucky to get out three months earlier than his scheduled release in March, next week he will be arraigned on charges of second-degree escape.