News release

Department Notifies Public of Mistaken Release

Justice

The Department of Justice is notifying the public about a man who was mistakenly released from custody on Friday, Nov. 5.

Vernon Martell, 41, was being held at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth after being sentenced for theft under $5,000.

Mr. Martell was serving a conditional sentence in the community when he had to appear in court again for breaching that sentence. The judge sentenced him to serve the remainder of his sentence, 84 days, in custody.

Clerical errors within the court administration process led to Mr. Martell's mistaken release.

The mistake was discovered late Monday afternoon. Halifax Regional Police were called and are working to bring Mr. Martell back to the facility.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police.