The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is monitoring a court-ordered review of a proposed placement for a sexually violent predator in Alta ahead of a February hearing.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — The Placer County Sheriff’s Office says it is closely monitoring court-ordered efforts to conditionally release a convicted sexually violent predator into Placer County, citing ongoing public safety concerns.
According to the sheriff’s office, William Stephenson has been the subject of legal proceedings for several years.
The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has opposed Stephenson’s release from the Department of State Hospitals for the past four years. However, the court has repeatedly ordered his conditional release into the community.
A court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 13 to review a proposed placement location at 33935 Alta Oaks Road in Alta.
At that hearing, the court will decide whether the address is suitable, based on recommendations from the California Department of State Hospitals.
The sheriff’s office says Stephenson’s criminal history spans multiple decades and counties.
Officials have raised serious concerns about community safety if the placement were to move forward.
“As Sheriff, my responsibility is, and will always be, to protect the people of Placer County,” said Wayne Woo in a statement. “We continue to monitor this case closely and will work with the District Attorney’s Office to provide information and guidance as the Court reviews the proposed placement.”
In response to a request for comment from ABC10, the California Department of State Hospitals deferred to a prior a statement from December:
“Federal and state patient privacy laws prevent DSH from releasing specific information about any current or former DSH patients.”
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