Idaho inmate says 30 years is up, wants out of prison

RUPERT, Idaho – A south-central Idaho man sentenced to life in prison in 1984 for kidnapping and raping a woman says he’s reached the 30-year release date and should be set free.

The Times-News reported in a story on Saturday that 74-year-old Melvin Dan Hanks’ post-conviction relief case will be heard in March in Minidoka County District Court.

Hanks initially filed for post-conviction relief in 2016.

Hanks contends that his sentencing document has a typed note that says the sentencing judge said in court that Hanks would serve a fixed-life sentence not to exceed 30 years.

Hanks received the sentence after kidnapping and raping a bar owner’s wife.

At the time, Hanks had previous felony convictions for rape in 1966 and fourth-degree arson in 1979.