Six years ago, a dramatic clerical error resulted in the early release of Rene Lima-Marin, who actually had another ninety years to serve for committing armed robbery back in 2002. In the ensuing six years, Lima-Marin has reconnected with his wife and children, gotten a job and enjoyed a low-key, trouble-free life. But the long arm of the law figured out its mistake, and Lima-Marin is headed back to jail. He appealed to the court, saying the ruling constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. As his attorney, Patrick Megaro says,
Lima-Marin functioned as a member of society, no different than his neighbors, entirely unaware that Colorado would someday rip him from his home and family and upend a life he took years to build.
The Colorado court says Lima-Marin was aware that he was being released in error, and should have brought the mistake to authorities’ attention, while Megaro says such a perspective “ignores reality” …