Neighbor Arrested in Sex Assault On Girl, Then Let Go by Mistake

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By Clarence Williams

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 11, 2007; Page B04

A Prince George's County man was arrested in connection with a sexual assault on a 9-year-old girl in the Capitol Heights area, but he was released by mistake and was being sought last night, authorities said.

Police said the girl was assaulted Aug. 3 after a man knocked on the door of a home on Marlboro Pike and asked to use the telephone. When the girl let him in, police said, he showed a handgun and assaulted her.

On Thursday, police arrested John Henri Palmont Jr., 27, whose address is near the girl's, and charged him with sexual assault.

When police went to arrest Palmont, he jumped from a second-floor window and suffered fractures and other injuries, a county Department of Corrections spokeswoman said.

After a hearing at the Prince George's Hospital Center, Palmont was ordered held without bond, the spokeswoman said.

A corrections officer went to the hospital yesterday to release another inmate, and by mistake, Palmont was released about 6:15 p.m., said corrections spokeswoman Vicki Duncan.