A convicted rapist and child molester has been mistakenly released from Rogers State Prison in Georgia, and prison officials and police authorities are now frantically trying to apprehend him.
Tony Maycon Munoz-Mendez, aged 31, was handed a life sentence back in 2015, after being found guilty of charges of rape and aggravated child molestation.
CNN reports that, according to records kept by the Georgia Department of Corrections, Munoz-Mendez was sentenced in a Gwinnett County court after he was accused of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 10.
Per AJC, Channel 2 Action News reported that at the time of his trial Munoz-Mendez wrote a letter to the judge presiding over his case in which he pled innocent to all charges. He wrote: "I have no family here in the United States to help me out and I have to rely on myself on everything, and it’s hard. I know I’m innocent."
Prison officials have now confirmed that Munoz-Mendez was released at Rogers State Prison in Reidsville "in error." His release allegedly occurred at around noon on Friday, October 25. Prison officials have not yet stated what kind of error led to the felon being let go, but have urged the public to report his whereabouts as soon as possible.
Munoz Mendez is described as being approximately five-foot-nine and weighs around 186 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair, although this was shaved close to his scalp when he was set free.
In a statement regarding Munoz-Mendez's accidental release, Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Lori Benoit told AJC: "All resources are being utilized to ensure the rapid apprehension of Munoz-Mendez, including the Georgia Department of Corrections Fugitive Unit and US Marshals."
If you have any information whatsoever about the whereabouts of Munoz-Mendez, you are strongly advised to c