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Hulett's Mother Believes Son is Unfairly Imprisoned

Williston, Vermont - November 24, 2009

A Vermont sex offender whose case attracted national attention is still behind bars nearly one year after he became eligible for release and his mother says it's unfair.

Corrections officials say Mark Hulett is still behind bars because he refuses to co-operate with prison policy, but his mother doesn't believe it.

"It's hard thing, a very hard thing to take,you know. But they gotta give him a chance," said Carol Hulett.  

It's hard for Carol Hulett to control her emotions when she talks about why her son Mark remains behind bars when he is eligible for release.

"You know. Other people have been given a second chance. He needs that. Not just for him. But for me,too," she said.

Mark Hulett's prison problems began four years ago when he was sentenced for sexually molesting an eight-year-old girl. Prosecutors wanted a minimum of eight years. But Judge Edward Cashman instead imposed a 60-day prison sentence. The judge wanted Hulett in and out of of prison quickly so Hulett could take part in sex offender treatment that was not available behind bars.

The 60-day sentence triggered a storm of of controversy and scathing criticism, much of it from Fox cable host Bill O'Reilly.

The Governor ordered a prison policy change to make sex offender treatment available behind bars. In response, Judge Cashman re-sentenced Hulett to serve at least 3 years in prison. Hulett completed the therapy program and became eligible for prison release more than a year ago. But he remains behind bars.

"He needs to be able to get out there and show people he's going to do the right thing cause I know he will," said his mother.

Carol Hulett believes her son has been singled out so the state can show the nation that Vermont is tough on child molesters.

"This offender is being treated no differently that any other offender in our system," said Vermont Corrections Commissioner Andy Pallito.

Corrections Commissioner Andy Pallito says Hulett is one more than 700 of Vermont's 2,200 inmates who continue to be held beyond their minimum release for a host of reasons. Pallito says 165 of them, including Hulett, continue to be held because they have not secured acceptable housing.

Pallito says Hulett insists on returning to the Williston home he co-owns with his mother where he lived when he committed his crimes and that's unacceptable.

"You're setting up the same circumstances that were in place before the offender committed the crimes in the first place. So one of the things we looked to do is find a more appropriate residence than where they came from, particularly one they weren't in before when they were acting in a criminal way," said Pallito.

"Why are they not looking into the potential that he's here with his mother? Someone who could direct him a little bit. I mean he does have a mind of his own, but I'd be willing to do what it takes to get him down the right path," said Carol Hulett.

Corrections Commisioner Pallito says living with his mother is simply too risky because Hulett's Williston home is next to a church school and just a few miles from his victim's home. They say if Hullett remains unwilling to help them help him find an acceptable residence they are prepared to keep him behind bars for his maximum sentence of ten years.

Brian Joyce - WCAX News

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