MONTPELIER, Vt. -
A convicted murderer is a free man. He was locked up for 20 years, but he got out three years before his sentence was up.
Douglas Mason stabbed and killed a man in Barre back in 1991, but because of some errors made by the parole board in 2004, he was released early.
In 1991 Mason was 22 years old. Convicted of stabbing and killing a man at a hotel in Barre.
Fast forward 21 years, Thursday, Mason is a free man, released three years early by accident!
"It's a concerning incident for both public safety and this individual's liberty," said Vermont Governor's General Council Sarah London
In addition to Mason's murder conviction, he pleaded guilty to sending threatening letters to the judge who sentenced him. A five year federal sentence was tacked on.
The state paroled Mason in 2004, allowing him to serve his federal sentence; a verbal agreement with the felon was made that he would then go back to the state pen.
"Unfortunately at the time, these hearings were not recorded and there was no documentation," said London.
Simply put, the way the state paroled Mason was incorrect. In an attempt to get him back into state custody, the board issued an arrest warrant for a parole violation.
But the thing is it would have been impossible for him to violate his parole, because he was still serving time in federal prison.
"We need to understand what happen and make sure that it never happens again," said Vermont Corrections Oversight Chairperson State Senator Richard Sears.
Changes were made in 2006. And all hearings are now recorded.
"So now the board executes an agreement that's signed by both the offender and his or her attorney, I've become confident that this will absolutely not happen again," said London.
Douglas Mason was released from prison two months ago and cannot go back to prison for the same crime because that's "double jeopardy."
