A sexually violent predator is now living in Jacumba Hot Springs after his release from a state mental hospital, which followed several years in prison, authorities said Wednesday.
Merle Wakefield was released from Coalinga State Hospital Tuesday and temporarily lives at 42920 Desert Rose Ranch Road under the Conditional Release Program, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Wakefield, 67, was convicted of lewd acts on a child in 1981 and rape by means of force, violence or fear in 1990 and sentenced to state prison each time, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
He is registered as a sex offender with the California Department of Justice and the county of San Diego, and has been released into the community as a transient, officials said.
He has a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender and has 24-hour supervision by Liberty Healthcare, a private company contracted by the state, according to the sheriff’s office.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Yvonne Campos ordered that he be placed in one of two vacant homes where other sexual violent predators were previously housed. If the homes become unavailable in the future, Wakefield would be moved into a recreational vehicle purchased by Liberty Healthcare.
“The purpose of this notice is to allow members of the public to protect themselves and their children from sex offenders,” the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday that “neither the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, or the Sexual Assault Enforcement Task Force is responsible for the selection of the site. That selection process is the responsibility of the Department of State Hospitals and the San Diego Superior Court.”
