A man designated as a sexually violent predator was approved by a judge Friday for conditional release to a home in Jacumba Hot Springs.
David Munoz, 58, will be released no later than June 7 to a home located at 45612 Old Highway 80, where he will live under supervision.
Munoz is classified as a sexually violent predator, a designation for those convicted of sexually violent offenses and diagnosed with a mental disorder that makes a person likely to re-offend.
After serving their prison sentences, sexually violent predators undergo treatment at state hospitals, but may also petition courts to continue treatment in outpatient locations, where they are monitored via GPS, among other measures.
According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Munoz was convicted of molesting a 12-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl sometime between 1988 and 1992, and attempted to assault three other victims. He was sentenced in 1992 to 11 years in state prison, and was later committed to Coalinga State Hospital.
Munoz’s placement at the Old Highway 80 home was approved by San Diego Superior Court Judge David Gill during a Friday morning court hearing.
Liberty Healthcare, which operates the state’s conditional release program for sexually violent predators, has asserted that no SVPs have re- offended in the 21-year history of the program.
Dr. Melissa Bagwell, who appeared at Friday’s hearing on behalf of Liberty, said that while some SVPs have been sent back to state hospitals for violations of the terms of their conditional release, none of those instances involved new sexual offenses.
County Supervisor Joel Anderson, whose district includes Jacumba, submitted a letter in opposition of Munoz’s release in which he alleged Liberty Healthcare “continues to target the community of Jacumba as a dumping ground for SVPs.”
Anderson wrote that 57% of the county’s released SVPs have been placed in Jacumba and 71% of them are in District 2.
“I urge you to prevent Liberty Healthcare from continuing to concentrate the placement of SVPs in communities such as Jacumba instead of doing the work to identify alternative placement locations in other regions of San Diego County,” Anderson wrote.
Bagwell said Liberty does not single out any particular community for placements, but sparsely populated areas tend to have more homes that are compliant with SVP requirements, such as not being close to schools.
Attorney Nancy Astifo, who appeared on behalf of Munoz, said it was “completely understandable that there’s fear and apprehension when considering the release of a sexually violent predator,” but said Munoz has been receiving treatment for decades at Coalinga State Hospital.
“Mr. Munoz has made the changes necessary to be able to be deemed not a danger to the community,” she said.
Astifo also noted that his release conditions include GPS monitoring on a 24/7 basis, which will alert Liberty staff if he leaves the residence. He also may only leave the residence with an escort, but cannot leave without staff permission.
State hospital officials have also recommended placing another SVP, Albert Carder, at the same Old Highway 80 address. The property includes two homes, so Munoz’s placement would not affect whether Carder could be placed there.
Gill is slated to oversee a hearing regarding Carder’s potential placement on May 17.