Court officials say the real suspect shares the same name and hometown, but is not related.
The mix-up wasn't realized until Friday, despite court appearances in both Pitt and Guilford counties.
Judge Susan Bray apologized to Hardy as she worked to get him released.
But he didn't have a way home.
Bray, prosecutors, defense attorneys and bailiffs collected $58 to buy Hardy lunch and a bus ticket back home.
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