By C1 Staff
CHARLESTON, Mo. — A man who avoided a 13-year prison sentence for armed robbery due to a clerical error was set free due to good behavior and a bureaucratic mix-up.
According to KMTV, Mike Anderson was supposed to serve his sentence in 2000, but officials lost track of him due to a clerical error. So Anderson went about his life, out in the open, including starting a family, buying a house, paying his taxes and starting his own business.
He walked out of a Missouri courthouse a free man alongside his wife and daughter. “I thank the public, thank everybody for their support,” he said. “Love you guys, love the prayers, thank you thank you thank you.”
The state caught its error last summer and sent Anderson to prison, but Monday a judge set him free for good behavior.
“I believe this case teaches us that justice can be swift, justice can be harsh, but justice can also be merciful,” said Anderson’s attorney Patrick Michael Megaro.
The hearing only took ten minutes before the judge set Anderson free.