Inmate who turned self in after mistaken release wants reduced sentence

OCALA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - He was hoping a judge would have some mercy on him and lighten his sentence for doing the right thing, but things aren't quite going his way.

In November, Louis Lopez was mistakenly released from the Marion County Jail, a day after he was sentenced for a DUI conviction.

"I thought it was a mistake, but I actually went out, went home," he said. "I ended up doing the right thing and turning myself in."

Since he has returned to the jail, he has filed two motions for an early release.

"I, Louis Lopez, ask this honorable judge for a reduction of sentence."

They were denied, but he still hopeful a reduction to his sentence.

"They gave me a year. At least give me six-months out of the year, since I did the right thing. You could still give me probation."

He said something needs to be done about the system, just in case this happens again.

"Maybe that somebody else might be like, 'Man, this guy turned himself and didn't get anything out of it. What should I do? I shouldn't turn myself in, if I'm not going to get anything out of it.'"

He said things might have turned out differently had a convicted murdered or rapist been mistakenly released.

"They would not have turned themselves in. They would have made the state pay taxpayers money to go look for them," he said. "Be lenient with people that are trying to do the right thing, trying to do good."

Lopez intends to file a third motion. If that doesn't work, he said he will just have to wait for his expected release this summer.