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East County News Service
April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) - The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Sexually Violent Predator Gary Snavely. The California Department of State Hospitals has recommended the placement of Snavely at 3406 Running M Road in Borrego Springs He was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with two girls ages 8 and 9 between 1982 and 1986.
Snavely was previously placed in Jacumba Hot Springs, but was ordered back to a state mental hospital for violating terms of his release. The violations included misuse of medications, failing to remain appropriately clothed at all times on his property while in public view, and failing to report any and all instances of sexual thoughts and fantasies involving sexual deviance to treatment staff.
Efforts to place him in Julian were blocked after the homeowner withdrew the property from consideration, after a public outcry.
The San Diego County Sheriff's office, the District Attorney’s office and the Safe Task force are not responsible for the selection of the Borrego Springs location. The selection process is the responsibility of the Department of State Hospitals. The selection by state mental hospitals requires approval by the San Diego Superior Court.
With the hearing scheduled for May 15, 2026, the SAFE Task Force will be accepting public comments about the proposed placement to be included in the formal response to the court and the Department of State Hospitals.
This is your opportunity to support or object to the proposed placement before it is finalized. The District Attorney's Office and the SAFE Task Force will submit your comments to the court for the court’s consideration.
Comments will be accepted between the dates of April 11, 2026 and April 24, 2026.
You can e-mail your comments regarding placement to: sdsafe@sdsheriff.org. You can also call (858) 583-7238. You can mail your comments to:
SVP/Release/SAFE Task Force
9425 Chesapeake Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
Oral comments may be accepted subject to court ruling during a hearing on:
May 15, 2026
8:30 a.m.
Honorable Daniel B. Goldstein
San Diego Superior Court
Department 1901
1100 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101
For more information about the legal designation, treatment and release from confined facilities of sexually violent predators, visit the San Diego County District Attorney's website. You can also visit the Department of State Hospital's website.
To learn more about the SAFE Task Force, click here.
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