LAWRENCE COUNTY, KY MAN WHO WAS FELONY INMATE AT BIG SANDY DETENTION CENTER BEING SOUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES AFTER MISTAKENLY SET FREE
INCIDENT HAPPENED WELL OVER THREE+ WEEKS AGO, YET AUTHORITIES ONLY NOW PUBLICLY REVEALING THE BOO-BOO MADE AT THE BSRDC
AUGUST 16, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
LUCKY DUCKY FELON: HERBERT RAY FLETCHER, 47, OF LOUISA, KENTUCKY; IS BEING SOUGHT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTER BEING ACCIDENTALLY RELEASED FROM THE BIG SANDY REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER IN PAINTSVILLE IN THE LATTER PART OF JULY, WHERE HE WAS BEING HELD AS AN INMATE FOR A MONTH SINCE JUNE ON CHARGES FROM TWO ARRESTS
Authorities are seeking the whereabouts of an inmate mistakenly set free from the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center.
Herbert Ray Fletcher, 47, of Rockcastle Lane, of Louisa, KY., was released from the jail on July 23, despite being held on a $5,000 cash bond stemming from June 2026 arrests on charges of driving under the influence and shoplifting.
Commonwealth Attorney Matt Runyon said officials are still gathering information about exactly how the erroneous release occurred. He believes jail staff may have confused Fletcher’s current cash bond with a surety bond he had previously posted in an older criminal case.
Lawrence County Circuit Court records show Herbert Fletcher was indicted December 8, 2022, on charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense, methamphetamine, and tampering with physical evidence. The court set a $5,000 cash bond January 12, 2023, before changing it to a $5,000 surety bond Jan. 27, 2023. Herbert Fletcher posted the surety bond.
That bond became significant following Herbert Fletcher’s two new arrests during this summer on June 1 for shoplifting and failure to appear, and June 11 for a DUI.
The court record states that the previously posted bond was revoked due to the new arrests and that a new $5,000 cash bond was set June 11. A motion to reduce the bond was later denied June 25.
“This $5,000 surety bond only applied to the 2023 charges, and did not stand good for the June 2026 arrests,” according to Matt Runyon. “A $5,000 cash bond was set by the judge for the DUI and shoplifting charges and that Herbert Fletcher remained in Big Sandy due to his inability to pay this amount.”
The mistaken release was discovered on Tuesday, August 11, when Herbert Fletcher was due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on the June charges, according to Matt Runyon.
“The court contacted jail officials to inquire where the $5,000 was that the defendant would have had to post before being released,” said Matt Runyon. “And that is when the error was found and we became aware that Herbert Fletcher was no longer incarcerated.”
The court issued a bench warrant August 11 ordering Herbet Fletcher held without bond. The order specifically states: “NO BOND, DUE TO BSRDC RELEASING DEFENDANT IN ERROR.”
Matt Runyon said he believes Herbert Fletcher knew a mistake had been made when he was released, and he left the BSRDC despite knowing he had not posted the required cash bond.
PREVIOUS SHOOTING ASSAULT CASE
Herbert Fletcher has also faced a previous violent charge in Lawrence County.
Herbert Fletcher was arrested on August 5, 2022 on a first-degree assault charge in connection with the shooting of his wife, Kelly Fletcher. She suffered a gunshot wound to her upper torso. Kelly Fletcher later reportedly supported her husband’s claim that the shooting was accidental.
The felony charge was ultimately reduced to fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, and Herbet Fletcher was placed on probation.
Herbert Fletcher has a lengthy criminal record history, as he has been arrested 22 times since July 2004, for at least 37 felony, misdemeanor and motor vehicle offenses (but he had no arrests for a ten year period from May 2012 until August 2022, which was the shooting incident case). 18 of these arrests were in Lawrence County, two in Johnson County, and two in Martin County, with both arrests on the same day for violating an emergency protective order (EPO).
COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY CALLS FOR SAFEGUARDS
CA Matt Runyon said the July release raises concerns about the procedures used to ensure inmates are legally entitled to leave custody.
“We all understand that human errors occur,” Matt Runyon said. “But when you are dealing with inmates that have been sentenced or who are being held on charges pending a hearing, mistakes such as this cannot be made. Although Herbert Fletcher was arrested on nonviolent crimes, what if a prisoner who was considered a danger to society was accidentally released?”
Matt Runyon said he does not know the BSRDC exact release procedures but suggested requiring multiple employees to review an inmate’s paperwork before authorizing a release.
“It would make sense to have more than one set of eyes on the paperwork before they are set free,” said Matt Runyon. “The release form should also require more than one signature. That way, you are less apt to make this mistake if more than one staff member reviews everything. It is the smart thing to do, and definitely the safest.”
Regional area media attempts to reach Big Sandy Regional Detention Center Administrator Bryan Hansford and Intelligence Officer Austin Caudill for comment were unsuccessful.
Commonwealth Attorney Matt Runyon asks anyone with information about Herbert Fletcher’s whereabouts, to please contact the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office at 606-638-4368 or the Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland at 606-928-6421.
