INDIANAPOLIS -- A felon scheduled to serve eight more years in prison was mistakenly released this week from the Marion County Jail, where he had been transferred to face a misdemeanor charge in court, authorities said.

Police said they're looking for Tony Mays, whom they consider dangerous and potentially armed, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported Thursday.

Mays (pictured), who was convicted of drug dealing and was scheduled to be in state prison until 2016, recently was transferred to the county jail so he could appear in court on a misdemeanor drug charge -- which at most could have brought a one-year jail sentence.

Judge William Nelson this month sentenced Mays to jail time already served for the misdemeanor. Mays should have then returned to prison to continue serving time for his other conviction, but jailers released him Tuesday, authorities said.

Julio Fernandez, spokesman for the Marion County Jail, said the jail had no record indicating Mays was supposed to return to prison.

"(When) there's nothing else on their records that we have here, then he is released," Fernandez said.

However, Nelson said Mays' name was on a custody list reflecting that he should have been returned to prison.

Nelson said he didn't understand why Mays was ever taken out of prison to face the misdemeanor charge.

"A couple issues: (First,) why he was here in the first place on a misdemeanor when he's got eight more years to serve in prison. Two, who requested him to be transported here?" Nelson said.

Police said Mays has a lengthy criminal history including arrests on charges relating to alleged assaults and domestic battery.

Mays also has pending drug-dealing charges against him in western Indiana's Vigo County, Rinehart reported.

Mays' release is being investigated.

"This could have easily have happened (with) somebody who was convicted of murder," said David Wyser, Marion County's chief deputy prosecutor. "When they're in custody and they're released accidentally, that always gives us concern."