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Posted on 05/13/2014 1:46:05 AM PDT by PoloSec
Rene Lima-Marin had been free for nearly 6 years. Living a good life with his wife and children since his release in 2008, but that was all about to change for the convicted armed robber.
Marin, originally from Aurora, Colorado opened the door this past January, 2014 only to discover the police who were there to arrest him. In the end, a court clerk’s error led to the release of Marin, 90 years to soon. Colorado authorities did not discover the mistake till January and immediately sent him back to prison to serve the rest of his 98 year sentence.
Lima-Marin’s case brings light to the numerous other clerical errors that have let criminals go free. In the state of Missouri, a judge this week freed a convicted robber who didn’t report to prison, though the robber tried to do so multiple times, all due to clerical error. A California murder suspect who had been freed last year due to a clerk’s error was also captured this past Thursday.
Marin and his friend were convicted in 2000 on multiple robbery, kidnapping and burglary charges that involved two violent robberies. Marin at the time was only 20, but the pair ordered the employees in once case into a back room at gunpoint and demanded money stored in a safe.
The judge in the case sentenced Marin to serve back-to-back sentences on eight counts, for a total of 98 years. The court clerk in the case mistakenly wrote in his file that the sentences were to run concurrent. Marin was released on parole in 2008 after serving the noted 8 year term on his paperwork.
Marin set about building a life, while prosecutors now say he was fully aware of the clerical error. Marin, now 35 years old, took on various jobs, stalling windows and making good money. He connected with his former girlfriend, they married in July of 2012, a celebration of his 5th year anniversary of his parole and a celebration to the new life ahead.
Lima-Marin’s co-defendant, Michael Clifton, nearly received the same release from prison until he filed an appeal which uncovered the mistake. Clifton is serving the same 98 year sentence. Marin filed his own appear but in a rare move, asked the court to dismiss it less than a year later. The motion to dismiss the appeal shows the prosecutors in the case that Marin was well aware of the clerical error before his release.
Colorado State Public Defender, Doug Wilson would not comment on the case. In April, a judge declined to set Marin free at his public defender’s request. The judge in the new case set forth in the system said Marin knew he should have served 98 years but remained silent about the mistake.
Marin’s wife Jasmine noted that her husband had led a good life outside of prison and that people do change and reform themselves. She also noted that Marin did not hide his identity or leave the very region is lived his entire life in to avoid prosecution. Jasmine believes that Marin was handed a second chance at life and they [the police] have taken that away from him.
We let 5 freakin terrorists free so they go back to serialing killing.
Far as I know, this guy didn’t kill anyone and reformed his life.
We want people to serve time but, if they prove themselves regular citizens, them I’m good with the 8 years he served.
Personally, I’d kill my cohort for filing an appeal after already being let out and causing this....
Got nuttin to lose now...
And the court's clerical accuracy is his responsibility because......
The bigger issue in my view is why in the hell is a court sentencing someone to 98 years for armed robbery? That’s a life sentence and well beyond what’s necessary. The taxpayers will be on the hook to pay to keep someone incarcerated who has already demonstrated that he’s capable of living outside the penal system.
This is a racket. We have the highest incarceration rate in the world. Our streets aren’t particularly safe as a result. Obviously some people are profiting from this failed policy or it wouldn’t continue.
Sheriff and deputy sued after Greenville (SC) woman was jailed for old, paid speeding ticket
In a nutshell, she spent 2 days in jail. She paid the $50 ticket 10 years ago.
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