other news reports state that New Mexico authorities released one of the young women previously taken from the compound from state custody. Both the prosecution and the defense excused one judge in the case. Union County Judge Gerald E. Baca was appointed the case on July 2, 2008. The jury trial started November 17, 2008. Conviction On December 15, 2008, jurors convicted Wayne Bent of one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was acquitted of a second charge of criminal sexual contact with a minor. Bent was allowed to return to Strong City, the sect's compound near Clayton, pending sentencing. On December 30, Judge Gerald Baca imposed the maximum sentence of 18 years but suspended eight years. He will have to serve at least 8½ years before becoming eligible for release. An Albuquerque news station reported that as of September 11, 2009, Bent has been on hunger strike while in prison, and a judge has ordered that force-feeding be used should it become necessary. According to the church's website, Bent entered a religious fast that takes the form of a Jubilee fast. It is also claimed that his fast is a protest against his imprisonment 'because of a lie'. Conviction overturned and reinstated On June 28, 2011, the New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned all convictions against Wayne Bent. The court determined the grand jury was not legally assembled. In the unanimous three judge decision, Judge Roderick T. Kennedy shares the opinion of the court; On October 22, 2012, the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned the New Mexico Court of Appeals ruling and Wayne Bent would continue to serve out the remainder of his sentence in prison for the next four years. Release from prison Wayne Bent was paroled from prison in February 2016 after being diagnosed with a cancer that threatened the hearing in his left ear. He has since published a book about his legal case on his website. The title of the publication, The Little Book, is taken from a reference found in the biblical book of Revelation, chapter ten. See also Disconfirmed expectancy Doomsday cult List of people who have claimed to be Jesus Millenarianism References External links Official website Christian eschatology Christian new religious movements Organizations based in New Mexico Christian organizations established in 2000 2000 establishments in New Mexico Cults