Saturday, October 20, 2007

Jerome Franz Gonzalez

A jury on Friday found that a man attempting to be paroled to Humboldt County was a sexually violent predator, meaning he'll now be sent to a state hospital for an indefinite amount of time.

Deputy District Attorney Allan Dollison said a Humboldt County jury made the determination about Jerome Franz Gonzalez, 61, after a trial.

There was no new crime. The trial was specifically to determine if Gonzalez was officially a sexually violent predator. Once a jury makes that determination, a person can then be sentenced to treatment at a state-run facility.

Dollison said Gonzalez has been convicted of sexual crimes in the past in Placer and Del Norte counties and lived in Humboldt County between 1992 and 1999.

In 1999, he was convicted in Humboldt County for attacking a woman with a rock and sentenced to prison.

He was due to be released from Mule Creek Prison into Humboldt County, but because of past convictions and statements made by Gonzalez, he was subject to the trial “to determine if it's likely he'll commit crimes in the future,” Dollison said.

One of the key facts in the trial is statements Gonzalez made in a 2004 examination, according to Dollison.

”He indicated that he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't do it again,” Dollison said.

He'll now be sent to a civil facility for treatment.

”Basically, he'll be sent to a state hospital,” Dollison said.

Gonzalez's attorney, Kevin Robinson, declined to comment on the case.

"25% of all sex offenders re-offend within 15 years"
.........Sarah Tofte

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