Terrence Preston - Repeat Sex Offender - Refuses his medication

Labeled a danger, Terrance T. Preston registered as a sex offender in Manchester in May, but was not on the state registry. He was convicted of raping a 16-year-old at knifepoint 29 years ago; the sentencing judge had warned that he was likely to be dangerous in the future.


A prosecutor and defense attorneys yesterday agreed that Terrence Preston, 49, a convicted sex offender who is accused of molesting two city children last summer, is not competent to stand trial at this time.

Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Gillian Abramson took under advisement a request to have Preston sent to the state psychiatric hospital, where efforts will be made to restore his competency.

Preston was arrested last July 2 after a brief crime spree that allegedly began with his trying to enter the women's shower room at the Greater Manchester YMCA.

He was then spotted in a woman's car parked outside the YMCA in which he had allegedly strewn her underwear on the dash and stolen money, getting out of the vehicle only after the owner said she was calling police.

Preston then allegedly entered a fenced Lake Avenue yard, groping 4- and 6-year-old girls and trying to persuade a 13-year-old to leave with him, before being chased away by older youngsters.

Preston was indicted on multiple charges last August, but has yet to be tried. Assistant Hillsborough County Attorney Nicole Fortune said a judge last December set a 12-month deadline for restoring Preston to competency and she believes it is still possible.

Fortune said Preston was committed to the state hospital in February and after five days on medication, he was released to the Valley Street Jail. But three days after his arrival, he refused to take his medication and his mental condition deteriorated.

Fortune outlined for the judge what the state's psychiatrist would testify to in a trial, that Preston remains incompetent and dangerous but capable of being restored on medication.

Preston was released from state facilities -- the prison and state hospital -- a year ago after serving time for the knife-point rape of a 16-year-old and the assault of a prison guard and after undergoing treatment for his psychological issues, which had prompted a psychiatrist at his 1979 trial to say he was liable to re-offend.

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