CONCORD — The Attorney General's Office is investigating the release of an inmate authorities said was let out on parole by mistake, then went on a crime spree that put him back behind bars.

Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice said the investigation commenced Thursday, the same day James Earl Rand, 44, was arraigned on felony charges of robbery and burglary. Rand was arraigned earlier this week on felony charges of armed robbery and attempting to steal a vehicle during his brief time out of custody.

An official with the state parole board has said he made a mistake that led to Rand's release around 10 a.m. last Friday; Rand was arrested early Monday. Gov. John Lynch has called for a complete investigation into how Rand ended up free instead of facing charges on warrants in Merrimack County.

“The governor has the Attorney General's Office and Department of Safety to investigate circumstances of this case and the procedures that could have led to a release like this,” Lynch spokesman Colin Manning said Thursday. “The governor wants to find out what happened because this should never happen again.”

Rice said an investigator from the state Department of Safety was assisting and would be contacting officials from the Corrections Department and Adult Parole Board.

John Eckert, executive assistant to the Parole Board, has said several times this week that he made a mistake by not checking to see if Rand was wanted on any other charges before he was released. Eckert said Thursday he had yet to hear from investigators and didn't want to say anything more until he has.

“It wouldn't be proper for me to comment further until the governor's investigation is completed,” Eckert said. “I don't want in any way to hinder or taint the investigation.”

Corrections Department spokesman Jeff Lyons said the department welcomed the investigation.

“We will cooperate fully in providing information they need to complete a thorough review,” he said.

Lyons said Rand, who has been in and out of the corrections system since 1989, had been in prison since August on charges of forgery and being a repeat offender. He was approved for parole and told officials he would head to Georgia, where he had family and friends and planned to serve his parole through 2014. But the board was not aware of two charges of receiving stolen property that Rand still faced in Merrimack County.

“We didn't do anything different than we normally do when somebody is to be released on parole,” Lyons said.

Eckert has said he noticed the Merrimack County charges shortly after Rand was released last Friday. Eckert alerted the Corrections Department, which sent officers to the Concord bus station to find Rand, who was supposed to go by bus to Savannah, Ga.

Lyons said Lynch's call for an investigation is a good idea because it could uncover flaws in the parole process.

“I think it's important to look at the whole thing,” Lyons said. “It's important to make corrections if they are needed.”

Rand was arrested early Monday after he robbed a Cumberland Farms clerk at knifepoint around 11:45 p.m. Sunday, demanding she open the cash register and give him her car keys. Less than an hour earlier, police say Rand wrestled a purse from a woman outside a Walmart.

He was arraigned Monday in 6th Circuit Court-District Division in Concord on charges of armed robbery and attempting to steal a car. He was arraigned again Thursday on a charge of theft from the purse snatching and a count of burglary. Rand is accused of breaking into a construction company Saturday night.

Already being held on $60,000 cash bail, Judge Gerard Boyle added another $10,000 on each of the new charges Thursday, bringing Rand's total bail to $80,000.

“I do believe you are a danger to the public,” Boyle told Rand.

Rand is scheduled for a preliminary cause hearing on April 12.