TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) _ An appeal court has ordered a sex offender released from involuntary civil commitment, where he was held for nine years without a hearing.
A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday granted the order sought by Brian Taylor who completed a 15-year sentence for armed sexual battery in May 2002.
Sex offenders can be detained in civil commitment after finishing their sentences. But a petition must be filed while still in custody, and a hearing must be held within 30 days.
The appeal panel ruled Taylor was no longer in custody last year when the state filed a new petition and dropped its appeal of a judge's decision dismissing the first one.
The judge ruled Taylor's hearing had been improperly delayed past the 30-day limit.
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