District Attorney Melissa Pelfrey says Clarence Burgess Jr., charged in two Christmas season bank robberies, was released from jail on $8,000 bond because of miscommunication between her office and the clerk of courts office.

Pelfrey declined to elaborate but did tell rrspin.com “steps were being taken” to correct the miscommunication.

Burgess had his bond reduced from $1 million to $8,000 in two Christmas season bank robberies and was charged last Wednesday in a break-in at Chaloner Middle School and a burglary at Forest Hills apartments, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said.

Burgess, 25, who was charged in the New Republic and First Citizens bank robberies, and Jermaine Hale, face charges of breaking and entering, larceny, possession of stolen property and felony conspiracy at Chaloner Middle School.

Burgess was also charged with felony possession of stolen property in the Forest Hills burglary. Hale, 23, was charged with second-degree burglary, possession of stolen goods and felony larceny.

Burgess was taken into custody and jailed on $100,000 bond. The property belonging to the school, computer equipment, was recovered. The police department has asked the district attorney’s office to revoke Burgess’s bank robbery bond.

Sometime after his arrest on the bank robbery charges in December, Burgess was released from jail on $8,000 bond after it was reduced from $1 million.

When he was arrested on the bank robbery charges, Burgess was abusive, made threats against police and used racial slurs as he was taken into custody.

A magistrate gave Burgess 30 days in jail for contempt of court.