From KCRW.com, I'm Bob Carlson, and this is Unfictional.

Unfictional is a program of true stories and personal documentaries and on this episode a man who lived a secret life for 28 years.

After an anti-war protest at Washington University in St. Louis in 1970, Howard

mechanic became the first person to be arrested and charged under the Civil

Obedience Act of 1968 and he was

thrown in jail awaiting trial. He firmly maintained his innocence but he

received a five-year sentence.

And it was then that he made a decision.

When I got out, I was still on appeal on the five-year sentence.

I was out on a bond at that time. And I I was thinking can I do five years and should I do five

years. About the time I got out I had pretty much made up my mind I wasn't going to serve

the five years. A lot of people think there's no

alternative you get five years and that's the only choice you have in life and you

don't make any choices you just do what you're told. I didn't take that choice.

On this episode of the program, the story of Howard Mechanic

and the 28 years he spent in hiding.

He made a new name, got new papers, raised a family, and it went that way,

until the day when his background was questioned. What happens when a secret past becomes public knowledge?

The story comes from the excellent podcast called Everything is Stories.

It's called Vanished Status.

From KCRW.com, it's unfictional.

I'm Howard Mechanic. I live in Prescott, Arizona right now.

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