Inmate Mistakenly Released From Court

A burglary suspect and potential third-strike candidate has been mistakenly released from custody after swapping identification wristbands with another inmate at the downtown Criminal Courts Building, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday.

It was at least the 25th time that a felony suspect has been mistakenly released from custody in Los Angeles County in the last 18 months.

Thomas Louis Murphy, 36, was arrested Friday on suspicion of burglary and was being held in lieu of $720,000 bail, deputies said. They said that about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Murphy switched wristbands with Rudolph Sissons, 41, who was scheduled for release because the auto-theft charges against him had been dropped.

Deputies said Sissons and Murphy, who have known each other for about 10 years, looked alike.

After Murphy’s mistaken release was discovered, Sissons was re-booked on suspicion of aiding and abetting an escape, officials said. They said Murphy has been convicted of felonies twice.