Billy Hailey, who served 20 years in Colorado state prisons, was re-arrested and returned to custody after officials discovered a miscalculation in his release date, according to CBS News.
Hailey was released in 2024 to a community corrections program in Fort Collins. He had spent nine months working as a personal trainer, acquired his own vehicle, and was improving his credit score. In May 2025, however, the Colorado Department of Corrections re-arrested him, stating that his sentence had been miscalculated and he had been released three-and-a-half years prematurely.
"It crushed me," Hailey told CBS Colorado from Sterling Correctional Facility. "It was hard to believe."
Officials from the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) stated that a review process identified instances where time had been credited in error under Colorado law. Alondra Gonzalez-Garcia, a CDOC spokesperson, explained that these adjustments are not disciplinary but are corrections to ensure compliance with the law and court-imposed sentences.
"While affected individuals may view these corrections as the loss of previously awarded time, the adjustments are not disciplinary in nature. Rather, they reflect a determination that the credit was incorrectly applied and must be corrected to ensure compliance with the law and the sentence imposed by the court," Gonzalez-Garcia said.
Hailey was found guilty of two felony assault charges, including choking a woman and using a knife, stemming from an incident in 2009 for which he was sentenced to 45 years. He was acquitted of several other charges.
Hailey expressed no resentment toward the CDOC, attributing his situation to a miscalculation. "I actually don't feel any anger towards DOC. There's no one to be angry at. Their stance is this was a miscalculation," he said. "All I can do is make the choices moving forward that continue to lead me to healthy rehabilitation and healthy choices, and I'm committed to doing that."
Hailey's supporters, including State Senator Cathy Kipp, have met with representatives from the governor's office to advocate for a sentence reduction. His new parole eligibility date is in 2028, at which point he hopes to resume his life outside of prison.