Want to serve 2 months of a 20 year prison sentence? Move to Massachusetts
The Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a Lowell man who never completed his 20-year prison sentence on a 1990 rape conviction won’t have to finish serving his time now.
The court says to make Vith Ly complete his sentence now would violate due process and the fundamental rights of fairness.
Ly was convicted of rape and other charges in 1990, but was released after serving just two months of his sentence pending his appeal.
When his appeal was denied in July 1991, he was never returned to prison.
He lived free for 16 years, working and raising a family.
The case was brought to the attention of authorities in April when a state trooper noticed Ly had not registered as a sex offender.
The faster I have nothing to do with that state the happier I'll be.
The court says to make Vith Ly complete his sentence now would violate due process and the fundamental rights of fairness.
Ly was convicted of rape and other charges in 1990, but was released after serving just two months of his sentence pending his appeal.
When his appeal was denied in July 1991, he was never returned to prison.
He lived free for 16 years, working and raising a family.
The case was brought to the attention of authorities in April when a state trooper noticed Ly had not registered as a sex offender.
The faster I have nothing to do with that state the happier I'll be.