MOUNT HELIX (KUSI) – A judge today rejected placing a sexually violent predator poised for conditional release at a home in the Mount Helix neighborhood, saying the residence was located in a densely populated neighborhood and in close proximity to children.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Albert Harutunian III said the home at 10957 Horizon Hills Drive, which was proposed by state hospital officials to house 64-year-old Merle Wade Wakefield, was “not what the legislature intended for SVP placements.”
Wakefield, who is currently housed at Coalinga State Hospital, is classified as a sexually violent predator, a designation for those convicted of sexually violent offenses and diagnosed with a mental disorder that makes them likely to re-offend. According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Wakefield was convicted of sex crimes in 1981 and 1990 and served prison terms for each crime.
Judge rules that placement of sexually violent predator not appropriate in El Cajon neighborhood
Now that the Mount Helix location has been determined to be unsuitable, the state will be tasked with finding another site to house Merle Wade Wakefield. Author: Allison Royal (KFMB), CBS News 8 Team Published: 6:32 AM PDT May 10, 2021 Updated: 11:27 AM PDT May 10, 2021
EL CAJON, Calif. A placement hearing was held on Monday for a sexually violent predator proposed for conditional release at a home in the Mount Helix neighborhood.
The San Diego Superior Court judge ruled that the neighborhood in El Cajon is not an appropriate location to house the man.
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A placement hearing is scheduled Monday for a sexually violent predator proposed for conditional release at a home in the Mount Helix neighborhood.
Merle Wade Wakefield, 64, who is currently housed at Coalinga State Hospital, is classified as a sexually violent predator, a designation for those convicted of sexually violent offenses and diagnosed with a mental disorder that makes them likely to re-offend.
After serving their prison sentences, sexually violent predators may undergo treatment at state hospitals, and may also petition courts to continue their treatment in supervised outpatient locations.
According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Wakefield was convicted of sex crimes in 1981 and 1990 and served prison terms for each crime.
Updated on May 10, 2021 at 5:22 pm
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A judge on Monday rejected placing a sexually violent predator poised for conditional release at a home in the Mount Helix neighborhood near El Cajon, saying the residence was located in a densely populated neighborhood and in close proximity to children.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Albert Harutunian III said the home at 10957 Horizon Hills Drive, which was proposed by state hospital officials to house 64-year-old Merle Wade Wakefield, was not what the legislature intended for SVP placements.
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