CLOVIS, N.M. -- A Curry County detention officer has been fired for taking two inmates outside the jail for lunch last week.
The Clovis News Journal reports that on Tuesday, County Manager Lance Pyle confirmed the detention officer was fired Friday by jail Administrator Keith Norwood. The detention officer's name was not released.
Norwood said the two inmates were taken outside the jail to eat lunch on July 27. Both the inmates are charged with violent crimes.
One of the inmates was Rico Sena, one of four prisoners who went on an armed rampage in February during an unsuccessful escape attempt. During that escape attempt Sena and the other inmates caused more than $14,000 in damage to the jail. He is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm.
The other inmate Albert Lopez is accused of shooting at the home of a Clovis police officer. The officers wife and infant were inside the home at the time of that shooting, but were uninjured.
On Thursday, the pair were on a work detail inside the facility and a detention officer took them outside to eat their jail-prepared lunches, said Norwood.
The jail Administrator also said the detention officer didn't have authority or permission to take the inmates outside.
