One-time Olympic hopeful Brock Turner has been released from prison after serving half of his six month sentence for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at Stanford University.
He walked out of the main entrance of the Santa Clara County jail shortly after 6am local time. He must register as a sex offender for life and faces three years of supervised probation.
It is expected he will return to live with his parents in Ohio.
The case received massive attention on social media after a heartfelt statement from his victim criticised the leniency of his sentence and prompted lawmakers in California to pass tougher sexual assault legislation.
The bill, which includes mandatory sentences for similar offences, passed the California assembly by 66-0. It has now been passed to the State Governor Jerry Brown for consideration. He has yet to indicate whether he will sign it into law.
WATCH LIVE: Activists hold news conference to protest Brock Turner release and recall judge. https://t.co/oLFX9oabus pic.twitter.com/7ixfvoKIpb
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) September 2, 2016