Lake Charles, LA –
On June 12, Department of Corrections inmate Xavier L. Johnwell, 31, Lake Charles, was inadvertently released from custody after returning to the Calcasieu Correctional Center from East Carroll Parish for a court appearance. Following his accidental release, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office immediately began an investigation and was actively attempting to locate Johnwell.
Earlier this afternoon, on June 26, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Johnwell was located outside an apartment complex in Lansing, Michigan and was taken into custody. He will be booked into the Ingham County Jail in Mason, Michigan and ultimately transported back to Calcasieu Parish. Assisting CPSO was the Western Michigan District United States Marshal’s Violent Offenders Task Force, consisting of the Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections, and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office.
“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our deputies and the collaborative work with other law enforcement agencies, we were able to successfully apprehend Johnwell without incident,” stated Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory. “We are conducting a thorough review of the release to understand how this error occurred. Additional training and a review of procedures are being conducted to ensure no such error occurs in the future. Our commitment to public safety and transparency remains unchanged and CPSO will continue to strive for the highest standards of accountability.”
Johnwell was serving time for charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal carrying of weapons, 2nd offense.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.