Local News

Durham Police Find No-Show Inmate in Motel 6

Durham police are searching for a work release inmate who did not come back to the Durham Correctional Center Friday after work.

Posted 2007-06-16T03:54:26+00:00 - Updated 2007-06-16T15:54:10+00:00

A work-release inmate who never returned to the Durham Correctional Center after work Friday was taken into custody early Saturday.

Vernon Burnette, inmate number is 0057838, was expected back from work at 5:30 p.m. Friday but never showed.

Police found him at about 4:30 a.m. at a Motel 6 off U.S. Highway 70 near N.C. Highway 98.

Burnette is serving a sentence for being a habitual felon. He has had breaking-and-entering charges and robbery charges mainly in Franklin County.

He is supposed to be in prison until March 2009, according to Keith Acree with the Department of Corrections.

Because he is in the work-release program, he is not necessarily considered dangerous. Authorities did not have any information Saturday morning concerning his prison status.