Manhunt for escaped Rhode Island detention center inmate who faces child rape charges

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James Morales, 35, escaped from Wyatt Correctional Center in Rhode Island
Police believe Morales, who faces child rape charges, fled to Massachusetts
Federal and state manhunt underway to find him, he is believed to be dangerous

Published: 20:07 EST, 2 January 2017 | Updated: 02:07 EST, 3 January 2017

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A round-the-clock manhunt is underway for James Morales, 35, who escaped from a Rhode Island detention center on Saturday

A round-the-clock manhunt is underway to find a former Army reservist who escaped from a Rhode Island detention center on Saturday.

State and federal authorities are pursuing James Morales, 35, who fled Wyatt Correctional Center in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

He escaped by climbing a basketball hoop to reach a rooftop, cutting through a fence and climbing through razor wire.

Morales has been charged with stealing 16 guns from a U.S. Army Reserve Center and faces child rape charges.

The Center's warden Daniel Martin said it took more than three hours to discover Morales was missing.

Two officers have been placed on paid leave and the prison remains locked down as officials review procedures.

Police believe Morales fled to Attleboro, Massachusetts, seven miles from Wyatt Correctional Center.

Police believe he stole a car in Attleboro that was found Sunday.

Officials say Morales, who is described as a 6-foot-one-inch, 180-pound African-American with brown eyes and black hair, may be armed and is considered extremely dangerous, NECN reported.

Warden Daniel Martin said it took more than three hours to discover Morales was missing from Wyatt Correctional Center

Two officers have been placed on paid leave and the prison remains locked down as officials review procedures at the center

Morales escaped just days before a status conference for his case was scheduled.

He had been held since November 2015 on federal charges of unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of stolen firearms and theft of government property.

He had also been charged in May 2015 with aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a person under the age of 14.

Morales had been held since November 2015 on federal charges of unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of stolen firearms and theft of government property

Morales signed up for the army reserves in September 2008 and in June 2013 was given an administrative discharge.

He had been a medical logistics specialist, according to an Army reserve spokesperson.