Should He Be Released?*

About this video

Ritland recounts meeting a veteran in jail who had served three combat deployments over 10 years in infantry units. The veteran was charged with felony assault after unconsciously striking his wife during a PTSD-related night terror, despite both he and his wife explaining the circumstances. According to Ritland, the veteran had been jailed for 6 months and faced potential years in prison, with no access to VA court due to the severity of the incident.

Key takeaways

• Ritland describes a case where a combat veteran with documented PTSD was criminally charged after an unconscious violent episode during sleep
• According to the account, both the veteran and his wife confirmed he was asleep and sought help immediately, but he was still prosecuted for felony assault
• The veteran was denied access to VA court because prosecutors deemed the incident too violent, despite his service record and PTSD treatment efforts

Episode details: published May 16, 2026 · 31.6M views · 1:01 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

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