Sex Offenders
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP)?
- What kind of treatment is provided?
- How many SVPs are committed from San Diego County?
- What is conditional release into the community?
- What is the rationale for placing multiple patients at the same location?
- Are SVPs ever released without conditions?
- How many San Diego SVPs have been ordered by the court to be released?
- Where are Phase V SVPs permitted to live?
- Do SVPs have to register as sex offenders?
- Is GPS used to keep track of SVPs?
- Does law enforcement monitor SVPs more closely that other sex offenders?
- What happens if a released SVP patient violates his Terms and Conditions?
When an inmate who has committed at least one sexually violent predatory offense is approaching the completion of their state prison sentence, Department of State Hospitals (DSH) assigns experts to evaluate whether the inmate meets three criteria to be deemed an SVP under the law:
- First, whether they have committed a qualifying offense;
- Second, whether they have a diagnosed mental disorder; and
- Third, whether they are likely to reoffend in a sexually violent predatory manner as a result of that mental disorder
- Ready for community-based treatment, or
- No longer presents a danger to the community
2. What kind of treatment is provided? [TOP]
There are 5 phases to the California Sex Offender Commitment Program. The first 3 are aimed at recognizing and controlling high risk behaviors through cognitive behavioral therapy. Phase IV begins to prepare the SVP for possible community-based treatment (Phase V) and eventual community re-integration. Although all committed SVPs are offered treatment, at this time only about 20% have chosen to participate in the treatment program.
3. How many SVPs are committed from San Diego County? [TOP]
As of July 3, 2023, there are 61 SVPs currently committed to Coalinga State Hospital or to the Conditional Release Program from San Diego County.
4. What is conditional release into the community? [TOP]
This is the final phase of treatment while the SVP is placed in and supervised within the community. For more information, read What is Outpatient Treatment
5. What is the rationale for placing multiple patients at the same location? [TOP]
There are economic reasons, including rental saving and efficiency of transporting to various treatment programs patients are required to participate in each day. However, more importantly according to DSH, the research indicates that sex offenders living together who are in treatment reoffend at lower rates that those living alone.
6. Are SVPs ever released without conditions? [TOP]
Yes. Committed SVPs have a right to a court hearing to determine if they continue to qualify as an SVP. The SVP may bring a motion to have a court determine that, or it may occur as a part of the regular court process under Welfare & Institutions Code 6600. A judge or a jury may rule that a particular patient no longer meets the legal requirements for SVP commitment. When that occurs, the "former" SVP is released into the community without any supervision, other than the requirement that he remain law-abiding and register as a sex offender every 90 days.
7. How many San Diego SVPs have been ordered by the court to be released? [TOP]
As of July 3, 2023, approximately 27 SVPs have been ordered released from the state hospital, either into the conditional release program or to be released unconditionally, since 1996.
Conditionally Released
- Douglas Badger – In 2004 he was first granted conditional release and in 2006 was placed in a trailer on Donovan State Prison grounds at 480 Alta Rd. in San Diego. In 2007 his release was revoked and he was returned to the hospital for further treatment. In 2013 he was again granted conditional release, was not placed, and in 2014 he withdrew his petition. In 2021 he was again conditionally released and in 2023 was placed at 1619 Zuni Trail in Borrego Springs.
- Albert Carder – In 2022 he was first granted conditional release and in 2024 he was placed at 45612 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba Hot Springs.
- Thomas Cornwell – In 2019 he was first granted conditional release and was placed at 2135 McCain Valley Rd. in Jacumba Hot Springs.
- Alan James – In 2018 he was first granted conditional release and in 2019 was ordered to be placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. In 2020 a request to revoke his conditional release status was filed and he was returned to the state hospital. In 2021 the court denied the request to revoke. In 2024 he was placed at 1138 Custer Road in Campo. He is currently pending revocation of conditional release
- Michael Martinez – In 2017 he was first granted conditional release and in 2018 was placed at 2135 McCain Valley Rd. in Boulevard. In 2019 he was ordered returned to the state hospital for a revocation, and in 2021 the revocation request was denied by the court. In 2022 he was placed at 3406 Running M. Rd. in Borrego Springs.
- David Munoz – In 2021 he was first granted conditional release and in 2024 he was placed at 45612 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba Hot Springs.
- Michael Poulsom – In 2019 he was first granted conditional release and in 2020 was placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. In 2023 he was returned to the state hospital on a revocation.
- Alvin Quarles – In 2024 he was first granted conditional release. On November 21, 2024, he was ordered to be released on transient status with a further hearing set for December 19, 2024 at 9:00 am in Department 1501 of the San Diego Superior Court so that Liberty Healthcare/CONREP can formulate a plan for transient release. The court also ordered that there will be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on-site human supervision when he is placed.
- Herman Smith – In 2017 he was first granted conditional release and in 2018 was placed at 42920 Desert Ranch Rd. in Jacumba Hot Springs. In 2020 he was returned to the state hospital on a revocation, and in 2021 the revocation request was denied by the court. In 2021 he was returned to 42920 Desert Ranch Rd. in Jacumba Hot Springs. He is currently pending revocation of conditional release.
- Gary Snavely – In 2007 he was first granted conditional release and in 2008 was placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs with David Chambless. In 2008 he was returned to the state hospital on a revocation. In 2014 he was again granted conditional release and in 2015 was placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. In 2015 he was returned to the state hospital on a revocation. In 2022 he was again granted conditional release and is awaiting placement.
- William Stafford – In 2021 he was first granted conditional release and in 2022 was placed at 42457 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs.
- Merle Wakefield – In 2020 he was first granted conditional release. In 2021 he was returned to the state hospital for further treatment, and in 2022 the court denied a motion to revoke. On November 26, 2024, pursuant to a November 21, 2024 court order, he was released on transient status with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on-site human supervision and GPS monitoring. The court ordered that he be placed in a home that CONREP/Liberty Healthcare has used for SVP placements but where no one is currently living because they are pending revocation. The court ordered that if a home becomes unavailable, Liberty can house him in an RV. The court further ordered that Liberty continue to search for a fixed placement residence for Mr. Wakefield.
- Joseph Bocklett – In 2020 he was first granted conditional release and was placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. In 2024 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- David Chambless – In 2007 he was first granted conditional release and in 2008 was placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba with Gary Snavely. In 2014 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Sam Consiglio – In 2024 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Steven Dejarlais – In 2020 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Allen Fields – In 2013 he was first granted conditional release and in 2014 was placed at 1138 Custer Rd. in Campo. In 2023 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Matthew Hedge – In 2004 he was first granted conditional release and in 2005 was placed in a trailer on Donovan State Prison grounds at 480 Alta Rd. in San Diego. He was returned to the hospital and revoked for further treatment. In 2009 he was again granted conditional release and was placed in a trailer on Donovan State Prison grounds at 480 Alta Rd. in San Diego. In 2012 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Leo Linkogle – In 2019 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Mikel Marshall – In 2013 he was first granted conditional release and in 2014 was placed at 42920 Desert Ranch Road in Jacumba. In 2018 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Juan Padilla – In 2021 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Anthony Sharp – In 2016 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Terry Stone – In 2014 he was first granted conditional release and in 2014 was placed at 2632 Frying Pan Road in Borrego Springs. In 2020 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Johnny Carrel (deceased 2016) – In 2016 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Claude Dablon (deceased 2021) – In 2017 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Ural Davis (deceased 2021) – In 2015 he was first granted conditional release and in 2016 was placed at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba. In 2019 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
- Frank Johnson (deceased 2011) – In 2011 he was first granted conditional release and was placed at 33241 Shockey Truck Trail in Campo.
- John Norman (deceased 2011) – In 2008 he was first granted conditional release and was placed at 1643 Jewel Valley Rd. in Boulevard. In 2009 he was returned to the state hospital, his release was revoked, and he died at Coalinga State Hospital.
- Peter Taylor (deceased 2017) – In 2017 the court found that he was no longer an SVP and he was unconditionally released.
8. Where are Phase V SVPs permitted to live? [TOP]
If an SVP is being supervised as an outpatient in the community, he can only live in a court-approved placement.
9. Do SVPs have to register as sex offenders? [TOP]
Yes. All current and former SVPs are required to register every 90 days, or whenever they move. There are also other registration requirements for particular situations which are explained to them at the time they register. For instance, if a former SVP were to move, he would need to register with the police department reporting his new address.
10. Is GPS used to keep track of SVPs? [TOP]
If a SVP is a Phase V outpatient being treated in the community, he will have to wear a GPS as part of his supervision. Other former SVPs have no such monitoring.
11. Does law enforcement monitor SVPs more closely that other sex offenders? [TOP]
Yes. Law enforcement watches SVPs more closely that other registered sex offenders. In San Diego County, the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force is aware of each high risk offender in the county. Working with law enforcement agencies throughout the county, the SAFE team proactively monitors these offenders. Additionally, when an SVP is in the community under a court-ordered placement, law enforcement is part of the Community Safety Team established by Liberty Healthcare, the community supervision program. For more information, read What is Outpatient Treatment
12. What happens if a released SVP patient violates his Terms and Conditions? [TOP]
When the community safety is threatened by the violation, the SVP can be immediately removed from the community until the court determines whether the violation is serious enough to warrant revocation of his community placement. If so, the SVP is returned to the hospital for continued treatment. In San Diego, this procedure has been utilized to revoke the outpatient placement of several SVPs. For more information, read What is Outpatient Treatment