California sex offender, kept on mental health hold for more than 20 years, may be released
(WorldNews Health)

A court order that has kept a former Costa Mesa man and registered sex offender inside a mental health hospital expired Saturday, signaling alarm from Orange County officials who have fought for decades to keep him detained. It was not clear whether the man, identified by officials as Cary Smith, was released from Coalinga State Hospital on Saturday. Department of State Hospitals officials were not immediately available for comment. Orange County officials said they were unaware of Smith`s whereabouts on Saturday. Smith had initially been placed in the state`s custody in 1999 after his then-wife turned over a letter...