John Hinckley Jr., the man who almost assassinated President Ronald Reagan 35 years ago, has presumably left his mental health facility for good.
Advertisement
“If those people who have concerns were fully informed, they’d have nothing to worry about”, said Levine, who confirmed that Hinckley would leave the hospital Saturday. Considering his dementia, he was not sent to jail but a mental facility instead, in Washington D.C., where he remained for years.
Hinckley, today a 61-year-old man, will live full time at his mother’s home in Williamsburg and will have to work or do volunteering activities three days a week.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Hinckley has already been visiting Williamsburg in preparation for a full-time post-release transition.
His lawyer Barry Levine told The Associated Press that he thinks Hinckley will be a “citizen about whom we can all be proud”.
Mr Hinckley, who was obsessed with the movie Taxi Driver and its young star Jodie Foster, is thought to have been trying to impress the actress.
Mr Brady’s death in 2014 at the age of 73 was ruled to be a homicide, but no further charges against Hinckley were brought.
For at least the first six months he’ll see his psychiatrist twice a month and he’ll have to attend weekly group therapy sessions.
“John Hinckley is responsible for the shooting of President Reagan and three other courageous men”.
Hinckley is technically on “convalescent leave” from the hospital, and he’ll continue to be treated and monitored on an out-patient basis, according to the judge’s order.
He will be able to live alone after one year.
Hinckley also wounded police officer Thomas Delahanty, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy, and, most severely, press secretary James Brady.
After Hinkley has been free for a year to 18 months, an updated risk assessment will be performed to determine whether his progress has continued.
Advertisement
He will be allowed to go online, but can’t search for details about his crime or set up social media accounts without permission. He will also be allowed to register to vote, which he has tried to do in the past. Also, he will probably vote for the November presidential election, but he cannot have any contact with the press.
