Liberty County sheriff's office terminates jail officer after inmate escapes hospital

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office terminated a correctional officer following an internal investigation that found the employee violated multiple jail policies while transporting inmate Yorlan Rafael Reyes. Reyes, 31, escaped custody at about 5:30 a.m. on July 18 from HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood.

The officer, who had worked six years for the Liberty County Jail, was first placed on administrative suspension and then dismissed after the review concluded. The sheriff’s office said the officer committed no criminal wrongdoing.

Reyes faces felony escape charges, an outstanding warrant for alleged unlawful disclosure of intimate visual material, and an active immigration detainer. The search for him remains active, with assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. A reward is offered for information leading to his arrest.