KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? Four men whom Wyandotte County courts called sexually violent predators are free because they didn’t get a speedy trial.

A ruling in January by the Kansas Court of Appeals freed Michael Blackmore, 47, because he wasn’t brought to trial within 60 days.

Blackmore, who has been diagnosed as a pedophile, served several years in prison on two felony convictions involving crimes against children. A judge later found probable cause to believe that Blackmore was a sexual predator, but his trial wasn’t held until more than five months later.

Because Blackmore wasn’t brought to trial within 60 days, as required by the Kansas Sexually Violent Predator Act, the three-judge panel of the appeals court ordered him released.

Three other sexual predators were released because of that ruling.

A prosecutor said trials were delayed because of the time needed for mental evaluations.

Wyandotte County Dist. Atty. Nick Tomasic said the cases were isolated incidents.

“There isn’t any big problem,” he said.

Blackmore, who has since been arrested for allegedly violating parole, was being held in the Wyandotte County jail.

If Blackmore is returned to prison, the District Attorney’s Office again could attempt to have him designated a sexual predator after he became eligible for release. Asst. Dist. Atty. Terra Morehead said she planned to do just that.

The other three sexual predators who were released as a result of the Blackmore case are no longer designated violent sexual predators, but they must register as sexual offenders if they live in Kansas.

Violent sexual predators are committed to the state Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services for treatment and can be held indefinitely.

In other cases in June 2001 and in October 2000, District Court judges dismissed murder charges against a Kansas City, Kan., man and a Leavenworth man because the prosecution had violated their right to a speedy trial.