Sheriff Clarifies Release, Man Lawfully Freed After Records Review
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office says a man once reported as mistakenly released from the county detention facility was lawfully freed after a records review found no active warrants or holds. The clarification follows a review with Transylvania County officials and highlights concerns about record accuracy and jail procedures that affect local public safety and trust.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has revised an earlier statement and now says Corey Howell was lawfully released after a review determined there were no active warrants or holds requiring his continued detention. The office consulted with the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office and confirmed Howell was not a fugitive, and that some of his pending charges are covered by a written promise to appear issued by a Buncombe County magistrate.
Howell was released from the Buncombe County Detention Facility on November 30. Deputies learned on December 4 that a Transylvania County hold may have applied, prompting the sheriff’s office to initially report a mistaken release and to begin a search. The matter was resolved when Howell appeared in Transylvania County court on Thursday and court officials determined a clerical error in the eCourts system had wrongly indicated an active "assault on a female" charge that should have been recalled before his earlier arrest.
With the clarification complete, Buncombe County officials said they will archive a previous social media post that suggested Howell had been mistakenly released. The sheriff’s office also said Howell’s pending charges will continue through the Transylvania County court system. Earlier communications from the sheriff’s office acknowledged regret over the apparent error and said the department was reviewing the incident to prevent similar problems.
The episode matters to Buncombe County residents because it raises questions about record keeping, intercounty coordination, and the reliability of the systems that determine whether someone remains in custody. This is the second reported release error at the jail in recent weeks, a pattern that may increase calls for procedural reviews and stronger safeguards in how holds and written promises to appear are recorded and verified.
For residents, the outcome ends an immediate public safety concern but underscores the need for transparency and improved accuracy in court and detention records. County officials say they are reviewing the incident and coordinating with neighboring law enforcement to ensure that clerical issues do not produce similar confusion in the future.
