Man jailed 14 years for court contempt to be freed (AP)

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AP - A Pennsylvania attorney was being released from prison Friday after serving the longest imprisonment on a civil contempt charge in U.S. history.

A suburban Philadelphia lawyer -- H. Beatty Chadwick -- released from prison after serving the longest imprisonment on a civil contempt charge in U.S. history says judges have too much discretion in such cases.

H. Beatty Chadwick said Friday he should have been able to have a jury decide whether he was capable of complying with a court order to turn over millions of dollars in a bitter divorce battle.

His ex-wife's lawyer has contended that he hid $2.5 million from her during divorce proceedings. Chadwick maintains he lost the money in bad investments.

Chadwick, who's now 73, says his only income is Social Security. He says he plans to find a job, though he's not sure yet what kind of work he will do. For now, he's staying with his 41-year-old son, Bill.

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Chadwick, who is in his early 70s, was jailed in April 1995, accused of hiding $2.5 million from his ex-wife during divorce proceedings. Chadwick maintained he lost the money in bad investments. In 2006, before the economic downturn, experts estimated the money would be worth more than $8 million.

A judge ordered H. Beatty Chadwick's release from a county prison in suburban Philadelphia more than 14 years after he was jailed for refusing to turn over millions of dollars in a bitter divorce battle. The case prompted dozens of appeals to county, state and federal courts, twice reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.

"He'll be home in time for the Phillies game," Chadwick's attorney, Michael Malloy, said while driving to meet his client late Friday afternoon. He did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment from Chadwick after his release.