An inmate from the Douglas County jail is on the loose, but it's not because of a jailbreak. Kentrell Amerson, 21, was awaiting sentencing for a car theft conviction, but allowed funeral leave Friday.

The inmate asked to attend the funeral of his brother Jonas Amerson, who was shot to death March 7. Despite objections from Douglas County Attorney, Don Kleine, Judge Gerald Moran granted Kentrell Amerson’s request.

"His lawyer had made the request that he be allowed to attend his brother's funeral, we objected for our reasons and the judge was thinking of this, I think, from the standpoint of the family," said Kleine. "His brother's funeral, his mother had asked he be allowed to go and the judge decided that he would allow him to go."

Amerson was allowed to leave the Douglas County Correctional Center for a period of six hours surrounding the funeral, without a police or deputy escort. The inmate was supposed to return by 2 p.m. Friday. When he did not come back to the facility, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Authorities realized Amerson had cut his GPS tracking device off his ankle about 1:50 pm.

"The person at fault here is Mr. Amerson, you know the judge gave him an opportunity to attend his brother's funeral and that was the purpose of it, and he took advantage of it obviously," said Kleine.

Amerson had faced between one and twenty years behind bars for the theft charge. He now faces an escape charge as well, punishable by one to twenty years. And, Kleine said, Amerson will be charged with criminal mischief for breaking his ankle bracelet monitor.

"Hopefully nothing will come of this, other than him being picked up as soon as possible and held accountable again for doing what he did," said Kleine.