Experts Say Sex Offender Should Be Freed

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Experts evaluating patients at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program say one man should be freed because there's little evidence to show he's a risk.

And a federal judge has ordered the state to show why that patient shouldn't be "immediately and unconditionally" released.

The Department of Human Services says it intends to show that in legal briefs it will file next week.

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank is overseeing a lawsuit that claims the state's treatment program for sex offenders is unconstitutional. He appointed the experts to evaluate whether patients are getting appropriate treatment.

His order this week says experts found one patient was 19 when he was committed, and has no adult criminal history. Frank says the panel unanimously agreed the patient should be released.