Felon vanishes after judge said OK to be free 3 hours before going to prison
Updated: Oct. 4 3:40pm
South Shore law enforcement is looking for a man who left Barton Memorial Hospital late Thursday morning when he was supposed to be headed to prison.
Anthony James Katello is 51, 5-feet-11, 180 pounds, and has brown hair. He was last seen wearing green shorts and no shirt.
El Dorado County sheriff’s Lt. Pete Van Arnum said a judge let Katello out for three hours so he could get his affairs in order before being sent to prison on spousal abuse charges. A church member was driving Katello around on errands. One of the stops was the hospital. Van Arnum did not why they went there.
Anthony James Katello
Lake Tahoe News has been told Katello went back inside saying he forgot something. That is the last time the volunteer saw the man.
An airplane, K9 units and officers from multiple agencies have been scouring the area. As of 3:40pm Oct. 4 the suspect was still on the loose. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
“We have contacted the spouse. We are taking action to ensure her safety at this time,” Van Arnum told Lake Tahoe News. The woman does not live in South Lake Tahoe.
The individual is not considered dangerous, however, if anyone sees a person matching this description they should call dispatch at (530) 542.6100 or 911.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
Please post a photo of this inmate when available
Is that why the SWAT team has been cruising around town loaded for bear with sirens on?
We need crime mapping here. Nice to be able to share info and be informed of neighborhood crime trends.
A “volunteer” escorting a prisoner? Really? Is that Sheriff’s Department policy? Doesn’t appear safe, or sound.
I’d like to know who authorized that transfer.
Ugh.
Ace, you and I are on the same page here. He is supposed to be on his way to PRISON, prison not jail and he gets let out with some church volunteer. I can’t believe that this would really be allowed.
The article is pretty clear, “a Judge” authorized him to be released for three hours. Not the Sheriff’s Department, a Judge is responsible for this mistake.
maybe the city can bill the courts for all the time and money spent trying to get this guy back into custody. Helecopters, K9’s, SWAT all cost money.
Maybe something to think about going into election season.
T. Michael Lee
CrimeReports.com is a system El Dorado county sheriff participates in.
Always amusing to see the bumbling bureaucrats outfoxed by a simple con man. In the private sector, heads would roll. In government, they simply check their pensions.
T.Michael Lee
AlertID is used in Washoe County & you could probably use it in SLT.
What judge in their right mind would allow this? Now all the costs….an airplane?
I checked with Crimereports.com after a couple bicycle-car accidents and didn’t see them posted. It doesn’t seem to be thorough. Correct me if I’m wrong though.
Thanks for the info on https://www.crimereports.com/#
I will use it daily.
Like most things published in the news media your only getting the inflamatory part of the story. Judges all over the State make similiar decisons everyday: A person is arrested for some crime and comes before the court for arraignment and bail (guaranteed by the US Constitution) the judge has to decide if the person is a good risk for an OR (own recog) release or if bail is appropriate and if so, how much? Another example is someone being held in-custody and a family member dies. That inmate can ask for a temporary release to attend the services – again, up to the judge to assess the risk and make a decision. Someone heading off to prison for a couple of years who wants to set their affairs in order is a common scenario in the criminal courts (and the volunteer driver was just that, he wasn’t there to monitor this guy, just drive him from place to place). In the end it comes down to personal responsibility, and the escapee had none. Not right to blame the judge for the irresponsible actions of someone who begged, pleaded and promised he would act honorably. El Dorado County residents are lucky to have the bench officers they have, all three care deeply for the community.