SUPERVISORS TAKE STAND AGAINST SEXUAL PREDATOR PLACEMENTS IN COUNTY

By Miriam Raftery

October 8, 2021 (San Diego) – By a unanimous vote, San Diego County Supervisors adopted a proposal by Supervisor Jim Desmond to oppose all future placements of sexually violent predators in the county until state law is changed to allow participation by local governments – including veto power.

“For too long, San Diego County communities have been living in fear knowing a sexually violent predator could be placed in their neighborhood,” Desmond said in a statement, calling policies “flawed.”  He added, “I would not vote to put a sexually violent predator next door to my family and I will not vote to put a sexually violent predator next door to your family.” Desmond's district includes Borrego Springs, where a hearing on proposed release of sexually violent predator Merle Wakefield has been postponed until February 2022.

It is unclear, however, whether the state will honor the Supervisor’s action, since placement power ultimately rests with the Department of State Hospitals.

“What people don’t understand is we have no legal power,” Supervisor Joel Anderson stated during the hearing Tuesday, where 22 people spoke in favor of the proposal. San Diego currently has five sexually violent predators placed in local communities – including some in Anderson’s East County district. Anderson observes that the state often places predators “in poor, low-income neighborhoods where people have the least ability to fight and push back.”

Recent placements have included low-income communities such as Campo and Jacumba.

But recently, neighborhoods have mobilized to block placement of sexually violent predators in communities with children and others at risk.

Kathleen Hedberg, former president of Grossmont Mount Helix Improvement Association, helped lead successful efforts that resulted in a judge withdrawing a home near Mount Helix proposed for placement of two sexual predators, Merle Wakefield and Douglas Badger. Badger’s five convictions included kidnapping, violent sexual assaults and molestation of children; he had been diagnosed as a sexual sadist who enjoyed hurting others.

Badger was later proposed for placement in Rancho Bernardo, where an outcry from residents led the property owner to withdraw his property from consideration, an action approved by a judge. The homeowner is also seeking to break his agreement with Liberty Healthcare, the company the state contracts with to place sexual predators, for any future proposed releases.

“Thank you to all who stood up and spoke for change,” Hedberg posted on Facebook after Supervisors voted to oppose future placements until changes are made.

Among the most compelling testimony was that of Mary Taylor, who spoke of being sexually assaulted more than 30 years ago by Alvin Quarles. Dubbed the “Bolder than Most Rapist” by authorities, Quarles was proposed for release locally but his conditional release from a state hospital approved by a court was later overturned by an appellate judge.

“There is no excuse for letting a known sexually violent predator rejoin a family community,” said Taylor, who indicated she is still “haunted” by the assault decades later.  She concludes, “Surely the rights of the innocent must supersede the rights of sexually violent predators.”