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Anti-Tax Crusader Douglas Bruce Released From Jail Early

DENVER (CBS4)- One of Colorado's best known anti-tax crusaders was released from jail early for good behavior Thursday morning.

Douglas Bruce served 103 days in jail for tax evasion. He was sentenced to 180 days after being convicted on tax charges of misusing a nonprofit organization he created.

Bruce, 62, described his experience behind bars as one filled with "stupidity and brutality."

He claims he was held behind bars illegally, "Under their law and their procedure I should have been out 16 days ago."

Bruce walked out of jail carrying a few belongings in a white trash bag.

He continues to dispute his conviction, "It should have never happened. I did nothing wrong."

He was released early for good behavior leaving 77 days left un-served.

"Of course I had good behavior. I'm sure most of the Jews in Auschwitz had good behavior," said Bruce.

For nearly four months he shared a community cell with 60 other inmates.

Bruce said he kept busy working in the jail's kitchen and laundry department.

"I tried my best to sleep walk through the whole experience, rise above all the stupidity, the absurdity, the brutality of the environment," said Bruce.

Bruce also read books written by famous figures such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr.

He compared himself to a political prisoner, "I told people when I went in. The government can seize my body and they shall never have my soul. I walk out with my soul intact."

Bruce is best known for authoring The Taxpayers' Bill of Rights or TABOR. TABOR was approved by voters in 1992 and dramatically limits local and state governments from taxing and spending.

Bruce served part of a term as a Republican in the state House, where he made enemies for bombastic speech and rude behavior. He became the only Colorado House member ever censured by the chamber after kicking a news photographer who snapped Bruce's picture during a prayer on the House floor in 2007.

Watch the complete, unedited video clip when Bruce turned himself in to authorities at the Denver Justice Center in February below:

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