John Hinckley to see release from mental hospital after 35 years

The man who tried to assassinate President Ronald Reagan 35 years ago will be released from a mental hospital to live with his mother in Virginia.

{mosads}A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Wednesday that John Hinckley could be released as early as next week. Hinckley will not allowed to contact his victims, their relatives or knowingly travel to areas where the current president or members of Congress are present. 

The judge also ruled Hinckley could live on his own or in a group home after one year. 

In 1981, Hinckley, inspired by his obsession with actress Jodie Foster, shot Reagan outside of the Washington Hilton hotel, leaving the former president recovering in the hospital for nearly two weeks. A police officer, Secret Service agent and Reagan press secretary were also injured in the shooting.

A court found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity. 

In Wednesday’s ruling, Judge Paul Friedman writes that Hinckley’s depression and psychotic disorder are in “full and sustained remission” and have been for more than 20 years. He has also taken more than 80 unsupervised trips to visit his mother in Williamsburg over the last 10 years with few problems.