PLACER COUNTY- The Placer County District Attorney’s Office is speaking out after a Placer County Superior Court judge granted a known Sexually Violent Predator, William Stephenson, conditional transient release Monday afternoon.
William Stephenson is classified by the State of California as a Sexually Violent Predator (“SVP”) and is currently enrolled in the state’s Sexually Violent Predator program under state law. Sexually Violent Predators are individuals who have been convicted of specified sexual offenses and served their entire original sentence but remained committed to a state hospital due to their risk of dangerousness.
The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has, “vehemently opposed Stephenson’s release throughout all court proceedings,” according to a press release issued just after the ruling took place Monday.
Beginning in January 2022, over the objection of the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, a Placer County Superior Court Judge made a ruling approving the conditional release of Stephenson, according to the release. The court tasked the Department of State Hospitals with finding housing for Stephenson. The Department of State Hospitals subcontracted with Liberty Healthcare, a private company, to conduct the housing search.
In Dec. 2022, Stephenson’s defense attorney filed a motion with the court citing due process concerns requesting the court to consider releasing Stephenson on transient status if Liberty Healthcare could not find stable housing for Stephenson. The Placer County District Attorney’s office again opposed Stephenson’s transient release. The judge at the time even expressed concerns about transient release.
Earlier today, after a three-hour hearing and argument from the District Attorney’s Office in opposition, the judge made the decision to grant Stephenson transient release in Placer County. Liberty Healthcare stated that “money is no object” and that Liberty Healthcare will purchase an RV to place Stephenson. The location of Stephenson’s placement will be addressed during a hearing on Sept. 1, 2023, in Department 4 of the Placer County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲’𝐬 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠:
The judge’s original decision in early 2022 to grant Stephenson conditional release despite valid public safety concerns.
Stephenson’s original crimes that placed him in the sexually violent predator program did not take place in Placer County.
Liberty Healthcare is a private company without any ties to Placer County and no obligation to act in the best interests of the citizens of Placer County when placing sexually violent predators.
Transient status SVP’s have a 50% failure rate, according to Liberty Healthcare.
Stephenson was granted traditional release in 2014 and failed; he was re-arrested in Roseville in 2017.
According the the release, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office will continue to oppose the transient release of Mr. Stephenson. The Placer County District Attorney’s Office will also pursue legislation prohibiting the transient release of individuals deemed to be sexually violent.
Additionally, the Office said it will request to participate in the current state audit of the state Sexually Violent Predator program authored by California State Senator Brian Jones.
The next court date for Mr. Stephenson is a public hearing when the court will decide the placement of Mr. Stephenson and will be held on Sept. 1 in Department 4 of the Placer County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. The hearing is open to the public.