By Billy Davis

A Mississippi state inmate who was mistakenly released from custody in Panola County last year has been arrested in Memphis after a car chase.

A task force of U.S. Marshals pursued and caught Billy Wheater on March 1 in Whitehaven after he crashed a stolen car according to press reports.

Sheriff Dennis Darby said Wheater was mistakenly released on bond last November when he was supposed to be held for the Miss. Department of Corrections.

Darby made his comments to a Memphis TV station after the car chase and arrest.

On the Department of Corrections Web site, Wheater, 30, is listed a state inmate for a conviction of aggravated assault in DeSoto County and grand larceny in Marshall County.

Darby said Wheater failed to report for a court appearance for a felony shoplifting charge.

“After not reporting back, marshals from our state went to Memphis, on March 1… and after a high speed chase, located Mr. Wheater,” Darby said.

Memphis news media reported the car Wheater was driving was stolen about a month and a half ago after his release.