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By Miriam Raftery
March 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A new citizens’ group, Your Voice Has Power, has been formed to oppose the continuing release of sexually violent predators into East County communities. The group will meet on Thursday, March 21 at 4 p.m. at Tio Lio’s, 5302 Napa St. in San Diego. Organizers are calling for a public forum and encourage community leaders, impacted citizens and survivors of sexually violent predators to attend and speak out. The group also urges the public to attend two hearings next week on the proposed release of two sexually violent predators into Jacumba Hot Springs.
“Decisions are repeatedly being made in violation of Marsy's Law and posing threats to our safety, particularly our youngest and most vulnerable members,” says Terri Larson, director of Our Voices Have Power. “Predators from many years ago are being released NOW because of extremely poor decisions made in the past. We, the survivors and the community, are being told "just deal with it". We are not! We are speaking out! Our voices have power!”
She adds, “As we, the members of the newly formed group Your Voice Has Power, have fought the release of Alvin Ray Quarles, the Bolder-Than-Most Rapist, we have become aware of other sexually violent predators being released into our community and have been contacted by survivors who need our support. In particular Robert and LeAnne, survivors who were sexually assaulted by Alan Earl James, when they were just 5 and 7 years old. A hearing was held to decide on the release of Mr. James back in October of 2018, Robert and LeAnne received letters notifying them of this court ruling in November of 2018. They were completely excluded from the process; in violation of Marsy's law,” she adds.
A hearing on Quarles’ release is set for March 20 at 9 a.m.
The San Diego District Attorney's Office issued a press release back in January also announcing the planned release of Alan Earl James to the community of Jacumba Hot Springs, CA. A public hearing to finalize plans for James' release has been scheduled for Friday March 22 at 9 a.m.
“Robert & LeAnne were very young children when they were attacked, they have spent their lives recovering from these atrocities. They were left out of the decision to release their attacker,” Larson says. “We need to make sure that their voices have power. The people of Jacumba Hot Springs are once again discovering that another predator is being released to their community without being included in the process. We need to make sure that their voice have power.”
If you would like to participate in the March 21 forum, contact Terri Larson to be included on the agenda ttank8@yahoo.com or call (619) 977-2875.
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Evil predators