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Sexual predator lives in a tent
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STORY TOOLS 
More from County NewsRoss Wollschlager is perhaps Ventura County's most unwanted person.
Chased out of seven hotels by a flurry of law enforcement fliers, the 43-year-old rapist is now homeless, living in a state-provided tent in a riverbed.
And that worries everyone from the prosecutor to the state doctors who tried to treat him.
"Being homeless makes him harder to keep track of, it's more stressful for him, and all these circumstances combined together make it more likely for him to re-offend," said Margaret Coyle, the deputy district attorney who argued against Wollschlager's release from civil commitment at Atascadero State Hospital last year.
Wollschlager's case is far from unique as counties up and down the state grapple with the return of their most reviled criminals: sexually violent predators. From Sacramento to San Diego, communities are shunning these sex offenders whose crimes evoke a special kind of fear and loathing.
As a result, they are winding up homeless or constantly on the move.
And while Wollschlager is Ventura County's first designated sexually violent predator back in the community, he likely will not be the last. Release hearings will be conducted in the next few months for at least 11 of the county's 15 court-designated sex offenders, Coyle said. All completed their prison sentences but have been kept under lock and key since then under a process known as civil commitment, which means at least two state doctors have diagnosed them as mentally disordered.
"This is a problem that is only going to get larger," Coyle said.
No one was interested
Liberty Healthcare Corp., which contracts with the state Mental Health Department to supervise sexually violent predators in the Conditional Release Program, spent 17 months searching for housing in Ventura County for Wollschlager. He remained in Atascadero during that time, even though a judge had ordered his release on the condition that he get treatment and supervision.
The company, which received $1.68 million from the state this year, took out want ads in local newspapers, personally contacted more than 1,000 potential landlords and sent letters to an additional 14,000, said Ken Carabello, Liberty's director of regional operations for California and the western United States. No one was interested, he said, even though Liberty offered to pay well over market rent values.
In Sacramento, it took 465 days to find child molester Timothy Boggs a permanent residence. Temporary ones included motels, an attorney's office for bunking down at night, and a trailer on a bail bondsman's rural property.
Recently, a landlord in the capital city agreed to rent to Boggs a standard three-bedroom apartment for $1,700, the going rate. Boggs, 52, completed the Sexually Violent Predator program at Atascadero State Hospital after serving 13 years in prison for molesting a Sacramento boy.
"There is significant resistance in county after county," Carabello said. "We look under every stone to try and find placement, and sometimes there are landlords willing, but once the community finds out they mount a great resistance. Not many stand up to that pressure."
'Aren't a lot of options'
While the state continues its search for more stable housing, Wollschlager is equipped with a Global Positioning System tracking device, and a security team hired by Liberty keeps an eye on his movements around the clock. He must take polygraph tests to monitor his risk of re-offending and wears an alcohol monitoring device.
He attends several therapy sessions each week and spends much of the day at a friend's house in Oxnard.
He cannot live there, however, because the house is within 2,000 feet of a school or park, said his public defender, Todd Howeth, whose office filed a petition Friday challenging the restriction in Wollschlager's case. The 2,000-foot limit was set by Proposition 83, passed by state voters in November, a restriction that is effectively pushing sex offenders out of many cities altogether and into rural communities or homelessness.
That concerns Sheriff Bob Brooks, who has the task of keeping the public safe in the vast stretches of unincorporated land in the county.
"In Ventura County, when looking at where to place these offenders, there just aren't a lot of options," Brooks said. "Most cities have virtually nowhere you can place them, forcing them into unincorporated areas."
Putting sex offenders out in remote areas is not the safest alternative, either, Carabello said. The area must have cell phone reception for contact and for GPS tracking.
Brooks also believes hotels are a bad idea because "women stay there, children stay there," he said.
Death threats made
Sgt. Jack Richards with the Ventura Police Department said his agency would rather see Wollschlager in a hotel than transient.
"In all my years as a police officer, I've seen worse criminals than this guy, but I still would feel better knowing where he is at all times," Richards said. "In a hotel, we know where he's coming back to, where we can contact him if we suspect anything at all. The public is safer, and he's safer."
Death threats have been made against Wollschlager.
Carabello said placing Wollschlager in hotels was the only alternative after the state was forced to let him go in August. Wollschlager was found fit for release in 2006 but languished in Atascadero State Hospital while Liberty searched for suitable placement. A court of appeal found last month that the state's inability to find housing was not legal grounds to keep him committed.
Wollschlager, who grew up in Ventura, was 19 when he sneaked through unlocked doors into the homes of two women and raped them in 1983. At the time, he was addicted to a stew of drugs, including cocaine and heroin. His alcohol addiction was so severe he was injecting it, said Howeth, his public defender.
After serving half of an eight-year prison sentence, he was released and two years later burglarized a home. He fondled a 10-year-old girl as she slept before he was discovered and ran away. He was imprisoned for 13 years and then civilly committed in 1996 to the state's mentally disordered offender program.
Wollschlager completed two phases of the five-phase treatment plan in Atascadero, served on several patient boards and worked hard on a substance abuse treatment program, Howeth said.
He was diagnosed with a sexual disorder that led him to rape adult women, but psychiatrists say he's not a pedophile.
In 2006, at a hearing to determine his fitness for release, a jury voted 8-4 to release him unconditionally. Three experts and several staff members testified he was ready. Unconditional release means he would have gotten out with no supervision or terms that he seek further treatment, Howeth said.
Howeth and Coyle polled the jurors afterward and found the four who opposed Wollschlager's release only did so because they wanted him to continue treatment.
17 months of searching
Instead of a retrial warranted by the jury's inability to reach a unanimous decision, Wollschlager offered to enter the Conditional Release Program for at least two years, Howeth said. Judge Rebecca Riley agreed and ordered his release pending provision of suitable housing.
But 17 months of searching produced nothing.
The state has sometimes resorted to putting state-bought trailers next to county jails or state prisons to house difficult-to-place offenders after release.
Douglas Badger, who sexually assaulted male hitchhikers at gunpoint over a 20-year period, is living in a trailer on the grounds of a state prison in San Diego County. After 15 years in prison, Badger completed eight years of treatment in Atascadero State Hospital before his release in 2006.
On Thursday, a San Luis Obispo County Superior Court judge ruled that Frederick Hoffman, a sex offender who served an 11-year term in state prison, may live near the county jail upon his release. Hoffman was convicted of two sexual assaults against children in the 1980s. Like Wollschlager, he was ordered released into the state's Conditional Release Program in 2006 but was kept at Atascadero while Liberty searched for housing.
'A state responsibility'
Liberty and the state Mental Health Director Stephen Mayberg approached Brooks about putting a trailer for Wollschlager on Todd Road Jail property, between Ventura and Santa Paula. Brooks refused, citing conditional-use-permit requirements that prohibit any residential use of the property dating back to when the jail was built amid protest from nearby residents.
"And even if we could, there would be liability and other concerns," Brooks said. "From the broader perspective this is a state responsibility. They also have state property that is buffered from residential areas they could use. It is not a county responsibility to protect and register and follow up on violations of these offenders, it's the state's. Nor is it the county's responsibility to assume the burden of residential care."
State property in the county that could be used includes equipment yards for the Department of Transportation and industrial building complexes, Brooks said.
Mayberg said placement must be suitable under the law. It must meet codes and be safe for both the community and the sex offender.
"It has to be a safe place and pass building codes; we are not going to put someone in a storage shed," Mayberg said. "We understand why any elected officials including the sheriff wouldn't say, We endorse this place for a sex offender to live.' We can't expect them to find a place, but we can expect them to give us their expertise. We will only succeed with the engagement of the community."
Posted by themaxwellclan on September 2, 2007 at 5:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There's only one obvious solution. House these people next door to the judges who release them.
Posted by penquinbama on September 2, 2007 at 6:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well isn't that just too bad he has to live in a tent. If the judge feels the need to release these sicko's, then let them stay at HIS house. Better yet, let them out in the General Population at the prison. Then us Grandparents and parents wouldn't have to worry about our children. Once a molester, ALWAYS A MOLESTER.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on September 2, 2007 at 6:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I would rather see him in a hotel then a tent where NO ONE knows where he is at! This man needs to be monitored 24/7 !!!!
Injecting alcohol? Never heard of that! He must be really out of it....
Posted by hmlssNseattle on September 2, 2007 at 7 a.m. (Suggest removal)
http://gentrificationofamerica.blogsp...
Posted by senorbriar on September 2, 2007 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow!! The Sheriff is an idiot. I thought keeping Ventura County safe was part of his responsibility. He needs to get out his head out of the sand and think like Ventura PD...who want to know where he is at...this is a huge crisis in light of the many that are coming out.....
Posted by spokenit on September 2, 2007 at 8:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why did they release him when some felt he will re-offend? What is wrong w/ our systems? Come on who wants this man any where near them? Our system failed us by letting him out. Put him back where he was and we who pay the taxes will house him there. He is not to be trusted... I agree with letting him leave near the judge that released him.. YAH RIGHT! Not in the judge's backyard. Put him back, we do not want him on our streets, we do not want him near our parks, children, schools, or homes... Even Dr. Seuss knows that! It says he isnt not a pedophile, he has a sexual disorder, he rapes adult woman. Oh know we understand thats better. He can go live w/ his partner in a trailer next to a prison/jail.. They can talk about their great accomplishments in life. Why does our society care some much about him and what happens to him? If they really cared they would put him back where he was and let him live out his life there. Oh no that cost to much money... Lets see life or money?? hmmm which is more important to the idiots that let him out???
Posted by ironwoman on September 2, 2007 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the State should purchase property off the 15 freeway (on the way to Vegas) in the middle of nowhere and place trailers for these sick individuals....or how's this?????? Don't release them. Obviously sex offenders are not wanted in society. These predators don't deserve a second chance.
Posted by thorvet on September 2, 2007 at 8:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunatly, the police department did lobby for his continued incarceration and Sheriff Brooks was the first to hold the press conference to make sure the community knew that this guy was going to be released and that he was dangerous. It was the idiot judge, Rebecca Riley, that went against the psyciatric evaluations and the police department recommendations and released him.
The best and least expensive place to monitor these guys is in prison. I'd rather have my tax dollars work to keep him there instead of paying for the stress on him and the community to keep him monitored. He can show up for therapy sessions in prison.
Posted by senorbriar on September 2, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree sex offenders are not wanted in our society....however look at the Megans Law web site...probably over 1000 in Ventura County...they're not going away any time soon...I would prefer to know where they are at...in order to protect my loved ones...
Posted by bwall on September 2, 2007 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The worst part is that the next time they offend, it gets worse for their victim's. Usually little girls who end up dead in a field.
I agree, let the guy live next door to the judge. Unless the judge lives by me of course ;)
Posted by vvrjim on September 2, 2007 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A good reason for the death penalty for these people.
Posted by imbetnonit on September 2, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I also thought the "tone" of this very long article sounded too sympathetic to the poor little sex offenders.
These people are like a cancer on our society, they should be dealt with in the same way we deal with any type of cancer.
Posted by Lost on September 2, 2007 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to agree with Senorbriar, the Sheriff is an idiot! Since he's so concerned the guy shouldn't stay in a motel where he can be monitored, then maybe he can set up one of those little task force units he's so good at doing to keep an eye on that guy in the riverbed. That would certainly help the situation.
Posted by Jacksprat on September 2, 2007 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Stop blameing the judge, he was doing what he is suppose to do follow the law. The trouble is that the law was not thought our well, with the requirement not to be within any area with kids. Impossible. What it should has set certain pramerator as to what area these people can live. Not all sex offenders are pedophile. Some are rapest, both men and women have been convicted of rape, but not with kids. Now these people should be able to be a closer to places with kids, but they need other monitor so they don't rape again.
Once again a law is passed and common sense was not there when it was done.
Posted by salvadors_girl on September 2, 2007 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tell the community his actual location see how long he lasts. I could care less if he lives in a tent just one step closer to HELL!!!!!
Posted by Sandy on September 2, 2007 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I totally agree with poster jmcgaw 3046, Ross did everything he was suppose to to. You the voters who voted in favor of Prop 83 are to blame because you let at lot of fearmongering politicians manipulate you into voting for an ill concieved, poorly written Proposition. Wake up and wise up, most sex offenses do not occur at schools, playgrounds or parks. They occur in homes and the child most likely knows and trusts the person molesting her/him. We need to organize so that we the voters of California can correct this by placing a well written and thought out initiative on the ballot that is fair to both the community and the offender and their families.
I do want to commend Ventura Counnty parole for really trying to help this man.
Posted by senorbriar on September 2, 2007 at 9:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sandy - You make great points. Prop 83 was a huge mistake...and its Department of Mental Health supervising this guy not parole...in fact parole and probation could really learn the meaning of effective community supervision by closely examining this case...this guy is being super intensively supervised...
Posted by ecarson1958 on September 3, 2007 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give me 1.8 million. I'll buy a piece of property in the county away from everyone. Then i'll build a nice and neat 1000 sq. ft. home. But let's not forget, he'll have solar panels and a generator. Enough gas in barrels to run the generator for a year. Also propane, and lastly either drill for water or have it trucked in. Sewage would be whatever was suitable or necessary. That's it. Have the food delivered by one of the online companies. I could do all of that for probably half a mil. The rest of the money I'd use to maintain his food and up keep with the interest payments from the money. There problem solved. You wouldn't even need a guard because he would live so far from people in an area almost impossible to visit other than by helicopter. Now, how hard was that? 1.8 million? The state is so good at spending money.
Posted by senorbriar on September 3, 2007 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Prop 83 will prove to be a huge mistake. In Iowa a similar bill several passed years ago, with the 2000 ft restriction, it resulted in fewer sex offenders registering there known addresses. Eventually the state prosecutors association demanded that the the law be repealed but no politician would dare touch that issue. In other words those sex offenders went underground and were unable to be monitored.... My point on effective supervision is that this guy is being watched more than any other offender in the community. Call the state parole office and ask them how often they see thier offenders. Why you're at it ask them why up to 40 sex offenders are housed at the same location in Oxnard?? Its probably so they can monitor there whereabouts. This guy living in hotel is safer than him living in the riverbed. By the way there are other people that live in the riverbed...do you think they know where Wollschlager's tent is??
Posted by Glara on September 3, 2007 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the VC star missed the biggest point. Which riverbed does this guy live in! Were they looking to inform the public or just trying to make us feel sorry for him. I live across the highway from the Ventura river, and I'm wondering if that is where he is. If you look him up on the Megan's law website it just lists his location as transient. If it was possible you guys should've included that detail in your report.
Posted by gayala70 on September 4, 2007 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jmcgaw3046, I don't think you know what your talking about. I did my internship at Atascadero and then moved on to work at a state institution for 10 years. The judge was not just doing her job. All penal code violator are sentenced for what ever amount of years they received in court and once that time is up they are then re-evalated to determine if they are fit for society and this can happen every two years for the rest of their lives. It is not the same as if they were just sent to the state prison system. Once they are commited to an institution such as Atascadero the due process changes significantly because they have a mental disorder on top of their crime. The staff collect a significant amount of data through out each day, each shift, each month and then prsent it to a judge for review. It's odd that the judge did not consider the psychologist suggestion, and also even more odd that the judge thinks she knows more than the people who work with him daily.
Posted by hotwildflower on September 4, 2007 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As if releasing him wasn't bad enough, why back into the community where he offended? I don't understand that reasoning...is it to torment the victims even more?
Knowing he is out there has made me much more afraid to leave an unlocked window in my home. I know he isn't the only one, but he has brought a new awareness to this problem.
Not to mention...they lost track of him for a couple of days already....
Posted by surfmedic91 on September 4, 2007 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OnlineReader1, if you feel it's no way to live, then move. Be lucky you aren't dealing with IEDs, VBIEDs, RPGs, and suicide bombers randomly in your neighborhood. Iraqis complain less than you do.
Posted by surfmedic91 on September 5, 2007 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OnlineReader1, well I see you are a great volunteer in the community and have the right to complain about what goes on. You wrote a page of assumptions about me based on 3 short sentences I wrote. I am currently in Iraq, a medic in the US Army and live in Ventura when not deployed. In 4 hours today I have seen 7 US soldiers that were hit by 2 separate IED blasts. I have blood on my boots from Iraqis, US military and coalition personnel, and even from detainees. I am not here because George W. needs more troops here, I am here because I cannot voice my opinion on concerns like Iraq or sexual predators living in our community unless I see them first hand. My point about Iraqi neighborhoods is completely true. Do you know that medication and supplies for the Iraqi healthcare system is not getting to them 100%, not because of the Iraqis, but because the US contractor who is supposed to get it to them is diverting it and claiming it as a loss?? I do not tolerate sexual predators or any criminals in my neighborhood. I do not turn my back on crime and either call the police or confront them directly. Sometimes "vigilante justice" is necessary.
Posted by newleef on September 5, 2007 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If my house is dirty I am not going to go and clean my neighbors house first. We need to bring the troops home....
Posted by cody1000 on September 7, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
every bleeding heart liberal's house should have a little 'granny house' next to it or in the backyard. then the sex offenders, parolees and other sweet criminals could live close to the people who love them so much. then we could close the prisons and save millions.
Posted by kind1 on September 8, 2007 at 12:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Any one remember Velasta Johnson and her murderer, Kevin Kolodziej (Kolodziej) who walked out of a hospital and stabbed 90-year-old Mrs. Velasta Johnson to death? http://www.napil.com/PersonalInjuryCa... I know her family remembers. I never met her but I remember. And it makes me wonder. When is dangerous, too dangerous to be free?
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