Out of jail by mistake, nabbed at sports bar

The man went to where he worked before.

By THOMAS LAKE, Times Staff Writer
Published January 12, 2008

TAMPA - Michael Hess, the man who escaped from custody and lived free for 28 years only to be recaptured in October, was mistakenly released from jail early Friday morning, authorities said.

He was caught hours later at his former workplace, the Press Box sports bar.

"We're not sure what the error was," said Debbie Carter, a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Hess, 57, escaped in 1979 after serving eight years of a 35-year prison sentence on charges of armed robbery, grand theft and marijuana possession. He posed as Charles Swiger, a man who had died in 1973, and he worked at the Press Box as a cook and a kitchen manager.

After the matching of an old fingerprint led to his arrest in October, Hess was held in a county jail while awaiting a transfer to state prison that was scheduled for Friday.

Instead, around 3 a.m., detention staff members set him free.

Carter said Hess was not aware that his release was erroneous. He believed it was justified, so he did not run and hide.

"Instead of fleeing, he showed up at work," his attorney, David Dee, told Fox 13 TV. "I think that speaks volumes of his character and credibility."

Authorities discovered the mistake around 9 a.m., and detectives found him at the Press Box around 11, Carter said. By noon, Hess was on his way back to prison.

[Last modified January 12, 2008, 01:40:41]