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A New York man who three weeks ago filed a federal lawsuit contending he was being held illegally in the Clearfield County Prison was released last Wednesday by President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman after being sentenced to time-served.
Shyam Pranami Gouli, 34, of Hicksville, N.Y., was arrested in January after he arrived in Clearfield County -- allegedly to have a tryst with a 15-year-old girl.
As it turned out, a group called the 814 Pred Hunters had set up a sting operation after multiple conversations with Gouli, who thought he was communicating with a minor.
When Gouli arrived in Clearfield, police were called and Gouli was charged with corruption of a minor and criminal use of a communication facility.
Gouli, represented by the Clearfield County Public Defender's Office, initially entered into plea discussions with the prosecution.
According to Gouli's federal lawsuit, he agreed to serve a sentence of 90 days in prison and pay a fine.
In his lawsuit he contended that his release date was April 3, but that date came and went, and Gouli remained behind bars.
He contended that he attempted to contact authorities, including the presiding judge, to indicate that he was being held unlawfully behind bars.
He received no response, according to his federal court petition.
According to court records, Gouli in April filed a federal lawsuit.
But he filed it with the U.S. District Court in Scranton.
The proper venue for such a lawsuit was with the District Court in Johnstown.
The lawsuit did not arrive in Johnstown until May 16, well beyond the date Gouli thought he was going to be released.
Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan P. Sayers explained last week that while there was a discussion about a 90-day jail sentence, he believed that Gouli had rejected the proposed plea agreement and the case was placed back on the county's trial list.
Jury selection for Gouli was scheduled for June 8, the DA stated.
However, Gouli's filing of a federal lawsuit led Clearfield County authorities to clarify the situation, and according to news reports, Ammerman urged the prosecution and defense to take a new look at a possible plea agreement rather than have Gouli continue to sit in prison awaiting trial.
The judge concluded Gouli believed he had actually entered into a plea agreement.
According to state court records, the two sides were able to come to an agreement and Ammerman held a sentencing hearing Wednesday.
Gouli was sentenced to a time-served of 128 days to one year in confinement on the charge of corruption of a minor, a third-degree felony. He will serve a concurrent term of probation for one year.
The charge of criminal use of a communication facility was withdrawn.
A spokesperson for the Clearfield County Prison reported that Gouli was released Thursday.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines was assigned last Friday to preside over Gouli's federal lawsuit.
The Clearfield County district attorney could not be reached for comment on Monday.
In view of the federal lawsuit, Gouli's attorney, who was named as a defendant in his lawsuit, sought to withdraw from the case.
Ammerman refused that request, according to the state court records.