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Lake County Man Who Spent 18 Years In Jail For Child Molestation To Be Released After Victim Recants

LAKEPORT (CBS/AP) -- A man who spent 18 years in prison for child molestation is set to be released after his victim recanted her abuse claims.

The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that a judge ordered the release of 71-year-old Luther Jones after his accuser said her mother made her lie about the molestation. The mother was in a child custody dispute with Jones when the then 10-year-old girl made her claims two decades ago.

The accuser, now 30-years-old, recanted to the Lake County district attorney last week. A judge on Wednesday granted the district attorney's petition to release Jones, who is seriously ill and housed at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton.

The district attorney is investigating whether to charge the mother for coercing her daughter to lie.

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