LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — The early release of convicted child killer Ronald Exantus has sparked widespread scrutiny of Kentucky’s supervised release program — raising serious questions about public safety, mental health evaluations, and how violent offenders are monitored after leaving prison.

ABC 36 News Now spoke with Lexington criminal defense attorney Abe Mashni, who is not connected to the Exantus case, to help explain how the system works and why this release has triggered such backlash.

“The facts of that case are horrific, 100%,” Mashni said. “In the criminal system — not just in Kentucky, but nationwide — we put a huge emphasis on the mindset of the alleged criminal. In that case, you had to have the requisite intention in order to be found guilty of that specific crime

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