James Arthur Ray is set to be released Friday from the Arizona State Prison system. Ray was found guilty in 2011 of three counts of negligent homicide following a sweat lodge ceremony. The charges stemmed from a sweat lodge ceremony hosted by Ray, near Sedona, in October of 2009. Two of the victims died at the sweat lodge, and a third died several days later. 18 other people attending the ceremony were hospitalized.
Witnesses say the attendees had fasted and gone without water for more than a day before the sweat lodge ritual. Attendees were charged up to $10,000 to attend the retreat.
Ray could have faced up to nine years in prison. Three civil lawsuits filed against Ray, by the victims’ families, were settled for $3 million. He will remain on parole until October of this year.