Man Held in Mental Hospital For 40 Years For Theft of $20 Necklace

[From article]
In a chain of events that suggests a serious judicial breakdown, federal court records in Washington reviewed by The Washington Times show a public defender filed a motion for Mr. Frye’s unconditional release nearly six years ago, citing his recovery.
[. . .]
“Mr. Frye was accused of stealing a necklace that was valued at approximately twenty dollars,” Ms. Naguib wrote in the motion. “He has been at St. Elizabeths Hospital almost continuously since.”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/22/man-spends-four-decades-mental-hospital-for-steali/

Man spends four decades in mental hospital for stealing $20 necklace
Bizarre case shows judicial breakdown
By Jim McElhatton
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Washington Times