Shortly after founding Narconon, William Benitez researched his court conviction and discovered he had been tried under the wrong statute and was sentenced in excess of that prescribed by law. Upon return to court, Mr. Benitez was advised that he could conceivably be re-sentenced to time served and be released based on his eighteen months already served because of the miscarriage of justice.

Narconon was only a few months old at the time and Mr. Benitez believed the program would collapse if he didn't return to complete it. Rather than petitioning for his immediate release, he requested a smaller sentence which would allow him to fully implement Narconon. The court re-sentenced him to four to six years, leaving him sixteen months to serve. Mr. Benitez returned to prison and developed the program to its full capacity. As he states, "It was the best, but toughest decision I ever made in my life. I would have loved to walk away from that court a free man."

Narconon subsequently came to the attention of the public when reporters from the Arizona Daily Star secured permission from the warden to interview the inmate who requested to be returned to the walls. The Star printed a two-part series on Narconon in August 1966. TV Channel 10 News from Phoenix also took its cameras to the prison to interview Mr. Benitez and members of Narconon and to observe its functions.

Mr. Benitez completed his prison term and was released in October 1967. He moved to California to expand Narconon and to make it available to persons in need. Mr. Hubbard and his organizations supported the effort, resulting in worldwide expansion.

Years later, Mr. Benitez returned to Arizona and was hired as Inmate Liason by former Arizona Department of Corrections Director, Ellis McDougal, in 1981. He worked for the Department of Corrections until his death in 1999.