A Florence woman has been charged with letting three inmates escape from a work/release center in January.

Brittney Lashay Shipley, 35, faces three counts of second degree permitting and aiding escape.

According to court documents, the incident happened on Jan. 14 at the Lauderdale County Work Release Center.

At about 11:45 p.m., three inmates were seen on video walking out the front door. They went past Shipley, who was custodian and in charge of the center during her shift, investigators said.

The three inmates left in two vehicles and returned about four-and-a-half hours later. Investigators believe Shipley was paid to let them go, but she denied this, according to court documents.

Two of the inmates were on work release for misdemeanors, while a third was incarcerated for felony drug offenses.

Shipley was arrested Jan. 26. WHNT is reporting Shipley, who was not an employee of the sheriff’s office, was fired from the Work Release Center.