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Violent felon taken into custody in Vanderburgh Co.

Violent felon taken into custody in Vanderburgh Co.

PRINCETON, Ind. (WFIE) – Gibson County Prosecutor Michael Cochren said Donald Z. Smith, a serious and violent felon as defined by Indiana law, was taken into custody by the Vandenberg County Sheriff’s Department.

According to a news release, Smith was convicted of aggravated battery causing serious disfigurement and sentenced to 9 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections.

At the time of his sentencing in Gibson County, Smith had a misdemeanor warrant for a theft charge from the Vanderburgh County Superior Court-Misdemeanor Division.

Smith was transported to the Vanderburgh County Jail following his sentencing hearing. He had his initial hearing on Nov. 4 while in custody.

The news release states that Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday in Vanderburgh County and sentenced to life in prison.

He was then released on his own recognizance by the court, at which time he was physically released from the custody of the Vanderburgh County Jail despite an Indiana Department of Corrections.

Smith also has previous convictions for assault and battery on children.

A news release from District Attorney Cochren said that as of Friday at 4:56 p.m., Smith was taken back into custody.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff Noah Robinson released the following statement:

“We devoted considerable resources to locating Mr. Smith once the error in the launch was discovered. An investigation is underway to determine how the failure occurred. Prosecutor Michael Cochren has not notified our office that he will issue a press release. The suspect had already been located at the time of his release.”