A judge in Missouri ruled today that Cornealious “Mike” Anderson — who was sentenced to 13 years for his role in an armed robbery in 2000, but only sent to jail last July due to bureaucratic incompetence — could leave immediately. Anderson was granted time served for the 4,794 days between when he was convicted and eventually locked up, during which he had three kids, started a business, coached football, and volunteered at church. “You’ve been a good father,” the judge said. “You’ve been a good husband. You’ve been a good taxpaying citizen of the state of Missouri.” (He also, notably, wasn’t hiding.) As Anderson’s lawyer put it, “He has been able to accomplish for himself what the criminal justice system does not accomplish in many situations.”
