Norbert Maday asking to be released

OSHKOSH - A 74-year-old now former priest convicted of molesting two boys in Winnebago County 20 years ago is asking for his freedom. Norbert Maday wants to be released from a secure mental health facility and it's possible that could happen in the near future.

Thursday, in a Winnebago County courtroom, the prosecutor and defense attorney asked the Judge Daniel Bissett for the same thing: that sex offender Norbert Maday receives supervised release from the facility where he currently lives.

"Rather than risk a trial and have him walk away without supervision, instead we're putting him on supervised release, which is a closely-monitored release into the community," said special prosecutor Kevin Greene.

Maday, a former priest, had served 13 years in prison for sexually assaulting two teenage boys. But he was classified as a sexual predator. That meant the state was allowed to place him in a secure mental health facility. Then once a year, the facility evaluates whether Maday is still a threat. Judge Bissett read the recent evaluation, which recommended Maday be released.

"Action is appropriate for supervised release and that he has been cooperating with treatment," read Bissett.

Greene told FOX 11 if Maday is allowed on supervised release, he will have to follow many regulations. Those include wearing GPS monitoring.

"The list of rules is extensive. There are a number of conditions by law, one of which is for the first year he cannot leave his residence without a chaperone," explained Greene.

Maday's lawyer declined to talk on camera, but Greene told us he and the defense now have 90 days to bring a plan for supervised release to the judge.

"It's up to the court to either approve the plan or ask for modifications," said Greene.

Maday is scheduled to be back in court on June 4th.