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Murder Suspect Mistakenly Released From LA Jail

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) —A murder suspect was accidentally released from jail last month due to a clerical mix-up, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Johnny Mata, 32, of El Monte, left the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles April 4.

Mata was in custody for a case that was dismissed when prosecutors filed a new murder charge for his role in an alleged 2010 gang shooting in Baldwin Park.

However, the inmate was released before a clerk entered a hold for him. Authorities realized the mistake the next day.

The department announced Mata's situation to the public after they were unable to find him in the past 30 days.

"We are concerned and we are looking for the public's assistance in locating Mr. Mata," said Capt. Chuck Antuna, the head of the reception center. "We consider him a danger to the community."

Mata is Hispanic, with brown hair and brown eyes. He's 6 feet 1 and 197 pounds.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts was asked to call sheriff's homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500 or LA Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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