A 71-year-old sexually violent predator convicted of sexually assaulting male hitchhikers withdrew his petition for release Friday and will remain at a state mental hospital for continued treatment and care.
Last August, Judge David Gill found that Douglas Badger could safely be released into the community for continued treatment and supervision.
In December, the Department of State Hospitals proposed placing Badger at a 5.07-acre private residence on Custer Road in Campo.
Campo residents spoke out against the proposed placement in a January hearing before the judge.
Today, Badger’s attorney, Richard Gates, told the judge that he visited Badger at Coalinga State Hospital this week and they agreed that Badger was in need of more treatment and care.
Badger has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and sexual sadism, and has a history of sexually assaulting male hitchhikers dating back to 1974. He was sentenced in 1981 to 10 years in prison for a sexual assault in Riverside County.
After being released, he was sentenced to another 10-year term following a 1991 conviction for an attack in the San Diego area. Following treatment at a state mental hospital, he was released in July 2006 to the trailer outside Donovan Prison. He was returned to Atascadero State Hospital two months later due to regressions in his mental state and psychological diagnoses.
— City News Service
