SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Sacramento inmate who was released this week as part of a state plan to reduce the prison population is back in jail again.

After being released Monday night, Sacramento police say 22-year-old Kevin Peterson was arrested a little after noon Tuesday on suspicion of attempted rape.

Police Sgt. Norm Leong says Peterson is being held without bail after allegedly trying to rape a female counselor he was meeting with and holding her captive.

Peterson had been released 16 days early from the Sacramento County Jail after serving two months of a four-month sentence for violating probation.

He had previously served a one-year sentence for felony assault.

Under a law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger jails are now required to release inmates for good behavior after serving half their sentence.

In Kern County, the sheriff's office said 600 inmates, or 25 percent of the current inmate population, is affected by the new law. So far, between 125 and 130 inmates have been released early from Lerdo Jail, officials said.
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Eyewitness News staff contributed to this report.