Typo Fixed, Rape Suspect Back In Jail

Tue., June 15, 1999

From Staff

A suspected rapist mistakenly released from the Spokane County Jail last week surrendered to authorities Monday, deputies said.

Jonathan L. Springer, 19, turned himself over to a Spokane police officer at the Public Safety Building about 10:45 a.m.

Springer was arrested June 5 for investigation of two counts of child rape.

He was set free midnight Wednesday after formal charges were not filed within 72 hours of his arrest as required by state law.

Prosecutors forwarded the formal charging papers and a warrant to the jail for service on Springer on Wednesday afternoon.

But the warrant contained a typographical error, spelling Springer’s first name, “Johnathan.”

“The jail set aside the warrant rather than possibly serving it on the wrong person, and Springer was released,” sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan wrote in a press release.

A new warrant, spelling Springer’s name correctly, was then issued, but he spent nearly five days out of jail before turning himself in.

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