Sheldry Topp, oldest 'juvenile lifer' in Michigan freed at age 74

After serving more than 56 years behind bars, 74-year-old Sheldry left prison a free man on Thursday and headed for a steak dinner with his brother.

Topp was the oldest "juvenile lifer" in Michigan before his release. Two US Supreme Court decisions changed Topp's life.

n 2012 the Supreme Court decided that sentencing a minor to an automatic sentence of life in prison without a chance at parole was unconstitutional and represented "cruel and unusual punishment," even if the juvenile was convicted of murder.

In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled the law should be applied to prisoners retroactively, a decision that gave Topp another chance at life in society.

On Tuesday, Topp appeared in front of a judge for the reconsideration of his sentence. The prosecution sought to resentence Topp to life without parole.

Prosecutors argued that Topp did not act out of youthful immaturity when he fatally stabbed a man in 1962, and said he is "irreparably corrupt," according to court documents. The Oakland County Prosecutor did not respond to CNN's request for comment.

Topp never appealed his conviction, but was denied a commuted sentence in 1987 and 2008. He has served much of his prison time in a facility near Lake Michigan with the minimum level of security.

When Judge James Alexander resentenced Topp to 40-60 years in prison on Tuesday, Topp had already served 56 years and accrued more than 10 years' worth of good behavior credits, allowing him to be released without a parole hearing, said Chris Gautz, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections.

"I'm really feeling good about it. I don't know how I'll feel tomorrow, but I don't think I'll feel less good," Topp said, laughing, minutes after walking outside the prison fence.

The teenage Topp confessed, saying he waited until dark outside a house that he thought looked like "anybody with money lived," broke in, grabbed a kitchen knife and went to steal money from a bedroom dresser. When Davis discovered Topp and began fighting with him, he stabbed the man four times, then stole Davis' car and cut the phone line before fleeing to Chicago, according to court documents.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4211501&forum_id=2#37861570)

*50 years pass until suddenly, it is FOUND that X is 'unconstitutional (until such time that it is found 'constitutional' again in the future by a different group of people)*

this is no better than tribal superstition, the village shaman consulting the 'oracle'

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4211501&forum_id=2#37861790)

Prosecutors argued

Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued Prosecutors argued

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4211501&forum_id=2#37862076)

Besides, I kind of like this as a punishment. Getting to see the world and a glimpse of the life you could have had but missed out on, knowing it's way too late to do anything but wait to die

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=4211501&forum_id=2#37861808)