Members of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department are asking for the public's help in locating an inmate who was mistakenly released from the Twin Towers Jail.  Authorities say the suspect, Johnny Mata, is the fourth detainee who has been wrongfully released this year.

Defendant Mata was booked into the Twin Towers Jail on charges relating to attempted murder.  He is believed to have gang ties and may be considered dangerous.  Jail officials say missing paperwork and understaffing led to the mistake.   They have also begun using a color coding system on files to indicate which inmates should be classified as high-risk.  Supervisors have indicated there is no excuse for this error and that they have instructed clerks to double and triple check their work.

Mata was released from custody on April 4.  This information was not made available to the public until late last week.  An arrest warrant has since been issued for his immediate arrest.  Mata could be taken into custody at any time for any reason. The warrant will never expire.

A spokesperson for the Twin Towers Jail said the defendant had been in court in late March and that his attempted murder charges had been dismissed.  This is not because he was believed to be not guilty, but because the district attorney reportedly intended to charge him with murder.  A clerk at the jail failed to place a hold on the defendant.  The missing hold is the reason he was released.

Anyone who believes they may have information that could lead to Mata's capture is asked to contact local law enforcement.