While the facility, North Sound Behavioral Health, notified Thomas’ attorney that he needed to be picked up, and she later passed that message along, the center did not directly notify the U.S. Probation Office.
“The procedures that were followed in this case are unacceptable,” wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg. “When a defendant is terminated from a treatment facility that he is attending pursuant to the Court’s appearance bond, the facility should notify the Probation Office, not defense counsel. Had that occurred here ... Thomas would have been brought immediately to the courthouse without incident for his initial appearance.
Pioneer Human Services, which operates the treatment center, did not immediately comment in reponse to a request from The Associated Press.