Employee blamed for releasing inmate
WENTWORTH — The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office blames employee error for the mistaken release of a jail inmate earlier this month.
The sheriff's office said today it has meted out discipline to one of its employees. But the sheriff's office did not identify the employee or give details on the punishment.
Today's announcement follows an internal investigation into the release of Leon Oxendine Jr., 49, of Eden.
Oxendine was being held in the Rockingham County jail earlier this month on a $1.5 million bond. On Nov. 5, he had one of six sexual assault charges dismissed. He was released from jail after his court appearance. The sheriff's office did not realize he was gone until the next day.
Oxendine was captured in Myrtle Beach on Nov. 7, after 16 hours after jailers discovered he had disappeared.
Leon Oxendine Jr.
Courtesy of Rockingham County Sheriff's Office
