EARLY, REALLY REALLY EARLY RELEASE

Due to a clerical error, Rene Lima-Marin was release from a Colorado prison 90 years too soon

In 2000, Rene Lima-Martin and Michael Clifton were convicted of multiple counts of robbery, kidnapping and burglary after they robbed two Aurora, Colorado video stores at gunpoint. Each man received consecutive sentences totaling 98 years. However, a court clerk mistakenly recorded the sentences to run concurrently.

Lima-Martin was released on parole in 2008, 90 years too soon. He obtained a job, married, had two sons and completed his parole. He did not get into any kind of trouble. But in January of this year, the authorities discovered the clerical error and snatched his ass back into prison.

Lima-Martin, now 35, has appealed his reentry in to prison on grounds that it constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The Arapahoe County prosecutors are not impressed with the exemplary life he led on the outside and are not sympathetic to his plight and that of his family. They contend that he was fully aware of the error and should have notified the prison authorities thereof. Instead he withdrew an appeal in 2001 which prosecutors say proves he wanted to avoid further court action that would call attention to the mistake.

Michael Clifton did not drop the appeal he filed. As a result, the authorities discovered the clerical error and his unhappy ass will continue to roost in prison for a long, long time. Had Clifton dropped his appeal like Lima-Martin did, he too might have been released on parole. On top of that he lost the appeal.

More than 200,000 people have signed a petition urging Lima-Martin’s release.

My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that if we believe in second chances, then this guy clearly made the most of the time he was free, and he did it in an exemplary manner. I realize that Lima-Martin knew he should not have been released, but what person in his position would not have taken advantage of an error made by the court clerk. I say, release the man and let him return to his wife and two kids who badly need him.