Paul DeBoer, who was sentenced in June to six months in jail for seven misdemeanor counts resulting from passing a group of cyclists too closely, was released two months early.

DeBoer, 66, earned credit toward early release for good behavior and for participating in an inmate worker program. He was released from the Teton County Jail on Wednesday afternoon, said Teton County Sheriff’s Sgt. Clint Frome.

DeBoer, 66, had become known for conflicts with Game Creek Trail users over the years. He has been in and out of court for confronting bikers and dog walkers at the trailhead or on the trail, which are right across from his house. DeBoer claimed trail users were not following U.S. Forest Service rules that the agency did not enforce.

The incident that resulted in his incarceration involved three road bikers on the Game Creek Road in July, 2006. Mike Piker, Gabe Klamer and Richard Vangytenbeek all testified that DeBoer passed them at an unsafe distance – about 12 inches. Afterward, Piker said he made an obscene gesture toward DeBoer and DeBoer stopped his car to have a confrontation with Piker.

A six-person jury convicted DeBoer June 7 of three counts of reckless endangering, one for each biker. Those charges carried maximum penalties of one year in jail and $1,000 each. He was also convicted of one count of reckless driving, punishable by up to six months in jail and $750, and three charges of illegal overtaking on the left, which carried a maximum of 20 days in jail and $200 each.

Ninth Circuit Court Judge Timothy C. Day combined the three reckless endangering charges for sentencing purposes and sentenced DeBoer on June 12 to six months in jail. He was immediately taken into custody.

Day later allowed DeBoer to serve in the inmate worker program, which typically only has three to six participants. Everyone who participates must be serving a sentence of two months or more, said jail administrator Troy Sutton.

All inmates are eligible to earn three days off of their sentence every 30 days for good behavior. Inmate workers can earn up to eight good behavior days for every 30 days in jail, Frome said. They also earn one day off their sentence for every eight hours they work outside of the jail. Worker program projects include cleaning trash off the side of the roads, setting up and cleaning up for the Teton County Fair and other beautification or public service projects throughout the county, Frome said.

All together, DeBoer earned 60 days off of his 180-day sentence.

DeBoer declined to comment on his early release or his experience with the inmate worker program. DeBoer’s former attorney, Bob Horn, could not be reached for comment.