Exonerated of his alleged crimes, "Cannibal Cop" Gilberto Valle describes his experience in court, his time in prison, and his attempt to start a new life.

###Submission Statement

Gilberto Valle, the "Cannibal Cop" who was judged by both the public and the law for his fetishes describes the effect the legal proceedings had on his life. A thought provoking article touching on the topic of thought crime.

He's free???

Thank the gods.

I remember reading about his conviction and sentencing on Reddit, and was horrified by the commenters' approval of it. I kept pleading with people, "But can't you see the difference between writing about something, and doing it?" My favorite author, William S. Burroughs, wrote about all manners of horrific activities, but by all accounts he was a mild-mannered, respectable, polite gentleman in person. Even when he was strung out on junk.

The fact that someone writing fiction could end up in prison for it frankly terrifies me. I really think that the US has lost its mind. It can no longer differentiate between fantasy and reality.