California man freed from life prison sentence for joyriding

A 52-year-old California man has been freed from prison after serving 23 years of his life sentence on a joyriding conviction. It included eight years in solitary confinement for possessing a book written by the co-founder of a notorious prison gang.

His attorneys say it's unconscionable that he was set to die in prison for nonviolent crimes.

Kenneth Oliver was given the life term under California's strict "three strikes" sentencing law for repeat felons.

Voters eased the law in 2012 to allow life sentences only when the third strike is for a serious or violent felony.

But Oliver was ineligible for a new sentence because he was found with the book that officials say linked him to gang activity.

He was freed on Monday after prosecutors dropped their objections.