Column: The violent sexual predator next door

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Lawtis Donald Rhoden sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in Florida in 1969 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

When he got out-but while still on parole-he went to California, where he sexually assaulted three other minor girls, separately, luring them each into his car by posing as a fashion photographer. Then, while he was being investigated for those crimes, he traveled to Nashville and attacked another 13-year-old girl. She was convicted of rape in both California and Tennessee and returned to prison for another two decades.

I think it’s safe to say that this is not the kind of guy you want to live with.

But unfortunately for people living on 25th Street East, in the unincorporated part of Los Angeles County near Lancaster, they may not care. Rhoden could go to the neighborhood whether they wanted to or not.

Even after his prison term in 2004, Rhoden was incarcerated in a county jail and then a state psychiatric hospital for several years because he was officially classified as a “sexually violent predator” who remained dangerous. Then, in 2019, the state decided he would never commit another offense, and a judge ordered him to be “conditionally released” in the community.

But – surprise! – No one seems to like him.

Do you think it’s hard to put a homeless shelter or a half house in a California residential community? Try to find a home for the repeated violent sexual offender.

In theory, people like Rhoden should be placed in the county where they live before they are designated as “predators.” But a judge ruled that because of “unusual circumstances,” nothing could be found for him in Orange County. He agreed that the search could be expanded, and found a potential home in Twentynine Palms.

Guess what? The people of San Bernardino County are also not interested in getting him. “Stay outside!” said the San Bernardino County district attorney’s office. The judge finally denied that placement in May.

Now a hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5 to discuss Rhoden’s proposed move to a three-bedroom home on 25th Street East in LA County, less than nine miles from Lancaster City Hall.

That doesn’t end there either. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Antelope Valley, objected, as did city officials. Barger worries that the area is becoming a dumping ground for freed sex offenders. Just two months ago, a judge approved a residence in Antelope Valley for another sex offender, to the objections of several nearby residents.

“Enough,” Barger said.

Even George Gascón, LA County’s progressive district attorney, “strongly opposes” Rhoden’s move.

So what to do?

To me this is one of those difficult social problems where every choice seems undesirable. Of course no one likes him. No matter how many psychiatrists say they don’t think he’ll sin again, there’s no guarantee he won’t. Of course Antelope Valley residents are worried for their children.

But he had to live somewhere.

I knew I would receive many messages offering an easy solution: Lock him up forever! Kill him! He has lost his right to freedom-over and over-and the rest of us should not risk it on his behalf. And I agree, up to a point. If persistent mental illness means he is still in danger, there is a good argument under the law for keeping him in custody.

But if responsible experts persuaded a responsible judge that Rhoden could live safely in the community under surveillance and supervision after three decades in prison, what would be the option? Permanent incarceration of people in case they commit is not an answer.

Rhoden is 72 now, and her last known sexual offense was more than 35 years ago. He was incarcerated for nearly two decades after his official sentence. Authorities determined he was unlikely to recidivate. The law says he deserves to be released.

California’s answer to this problem is CONREP, a “conditional release program” for, among other things, violent sexual predators coming out of state psychiatric hospitals. It was created by the Legislature in the 1980s after the acquitted sex offender killed a toddler. CONREP is designed to provide treatment and strict supervision to prevent people from re -offending as they make the transition back into the community. The state contracts with Liberty Healthcare Corp. to provide services.

The CONREP administration certainly seems strict (some think too much). Its tracking tools for sex offenders include unannounced visits, undercover surveillance, frequent drug tests, personal meetings, polygraph testing, phone and computer tracking, GPS tracking and expenditure analysis, among other things. Tracking can take years. A spokesperson told me that there have been no “physically violent crimes” committed by any of the violent sexual predators that CONREP has tracked since it began.

It says to visit neighborhoods before recommending placements, including gathering information on the number and age of children in the area.

I’m not pretending to have a definitive solution to the Rhoden problem. I don’t know if the experts are right that he is unlikely to re -offend or if CONREP’s surveillance plan for Rhoden will lead to the right balance between public safety and the rights of the offender. I knew that if Rhoden moved in next to me, I wouldn’t be happy. And if I live in an area that gets more than its share of returning sex offenders, I will be aggravated. The burden has to be shared.

But I also believe in this: The state should not continue to detain people indefinitely beyond their sentences if they are found to be unlikely to re-engage in criminal behavior. So Rhoden needed shelter.

@nick_goldberg

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