Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said Wednesday that he strongly opposes the release of a sexually violent predator dubbed the “Pillowcase Rapist” to underserved communities such as the Antelope Valley.
Christopher Hubbart was convicted in 1973, 1982 and 1990 in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties for a series of rapes and other sex crimes.
In March, against Gascón’s objections, a Santa Clara County judge ultimately granted conditional release. The court determined that Los Angeles County was to be Hubbart’s place of residence, setting the stage for his potential release to Juniper Hills, south of Pearblossom, in the Antelope Valley.
The decision transfers the responsibility of housing Hubbart to the Los Angeles County Superior Court, which will make the final decision as to where he is placed. Once the judge granted conditional release, a search for appropriate housing began.
“Continuing to release sexually violent predators into underserved communities like the Antelope Valley is both irresponsible and unjust,” Gascón said in a statement.
“Repeatedly placing these individuals in the same community shows a blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of our residents,” he said. “Our deputy district attorneys will persist in opposing Mr. Hubbart’s placement in the Antelope Valley. We must demand more from our judicial system, ensuring decisions serve the best interests of our communities while exploring alternative locations for these placements.”
Prior to his release, the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office sought his civil commitment as a sexually violent predator under the Sexually Violent Predator Act, resulting in his commitment to a state mental hospital four years ago.
“Our Juniper Hills, Pearblossom, and the Antelope Valley residents at large have every right to voice their concerns about this predator’s placement in their community,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the Antelope Valley, said in a statement.
“While I understand that the state performs a comprehensive study and assessment before proposing a site, nothing takes the place of the real-world perspectives that only community members can offer,” she said. “I want to ensure my constituents are kept informed about this process and have every opportunity to weigh in on this decision.”
A representative from the District Attorney’s Office will speak at Wednesday evening’s Juniper Hills Town Council meeting to explain the Sexually Violent Predator Conditional Release program and provide more background. The meeting will be held at the Juniper Hills Community Center.
A hearing to determine Hubbart’s placement location is set for Oct. 1 at the Hollywood Courthouse.
Members of the public may submit written comments through Sept. 17 to the District Attorney’s Office at svpcomments@da.lacounty.gov.
Originally Published:
Read the full article here
Discussion about this post