Man freed after 13 years in jail for stealing food

A homeless man is free after spending 13 years behind bars for trying to steal food from a Los Angeles church kitchen.

Gregory Taylor became an example of the harsh sentences allowed by California's three-strikes law when he was ordered to spend 25 years in prison because of his two prior robbery convictions.

On Monday, a Superior Court judge reduced his sentence to eight years already served.

Taylor was greeted by happy family members Thursday as he left jail.

He plans to work for his brother's food pantry.

A Superior Court judge amended was sentenced in 1997 to 25 years to life.

Taylor was arrested in July 1997 while trying to get into the kitchen of St. Joseph's Church in downtown Los Angeles.

He told officers that he was hungry.

The church's pastor, the Rev. Alan McCoy, testified at the original sentencing that Taylor was often given food and allowed to sleep at the church.

The priest described him as a peaceful man struggling with homelessness and crack addiction.