A former Southern California state senator served only half an hour behind bars after he was sentenced to a 90-day jail sentence for perjury.

Democrat Rod Wright appeared at a Los Angeles County jail around 9:40 p.m. Friday to start serving his sentence. However, the 62-year-old was released only 34 minutes after he completed the paperwork, according to Sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. Wright was released because of jail crowding, according to the Los Angeles Times, but Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department would not confirm the reasoning behind his release.

Wright was convicted earlier in 2014 on eight separate felony counts, including perjury and voting fraud, for lying while running for office about where he lived. He said he had moved into the Inglewood area in 2008, making him eligible to represent the state's 25th Senate District. However, jurors found that Wright's address at the time was actually outside the district in Baldwin Hills, even though he owned a rental property in the area.

The former state senator maintained his innocence, stating he thought he was following Californian laws and did not intentionally deceive voters. However, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kathleen Kennedy denied Wright's bid for a new trial on Sept. 12.

The state senator resigned from his seat following his sentencing, before he could face potential expulsion from his colleagues. He will never be allowed to hold public office again.

Beyond his 90-day jail sentence, Wright was also ordered in September to three years of probation and 1,500 hours of community service.

In multiple but unrelated cases, two other Democratic state senators were also indicted on federal bribery and corruption charges.

A special election will be held Dec. 9 to fill Wright's state senate seat. Four democrats and one Republican have filed the paperwork to enter the running.