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Inmate Back In Custody After Being Mistakenly Released From LA County Jail

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A Los Angeles County jail inmate who was mistakenly released earlier this week was back in custody on Friday.

KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports Larry Darnell Howard was still months away from being eligible for parole when he unexpectedly found himself a free man — at least temporarily.

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Howard, 21, had been in Los Angeles since March 26 awaiting court proceedings on a two-year sentence for first-degree burglary after being transferred from Wasco State Prison.

Although he was not eligible for parole until November, Howard was released from county jail facilities on Tuesday despite a hold by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

He was taken back into custody by state corrections officials without incident early Friday morning, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

"Earlier indications are it was just a mistake, a clerical error," said Whitmore. "He's back in prison serving his time."

Whitmore said officials are planning an investigation.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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