Sexually violent predator & convicted pedophile Kevin Gray denied Turlock housing, for now
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Convicted sex offender Kevin Gray will not be released to a housing unit in Turlock. The ruling came after a motion was filed that argued the location was not suitable because of a nearby home-schooled student, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Kevin Gray, 72, was set to be released as part of the state of California’s conditional release program (CONREP) for sexually violent predators. However, the motion filed by the DA’s Office, fueled by public outcry and condemnation from public officials, prevented that from happening.
“We would like to thank the community for their assistance and the nearly 1000 emails we received offering input into the proposed placement,” read a statement from the DA’s office.
Gray was convicted of four separate sex crimes against children ages 11 and younger. However, he’s admitted he was not prosecuted for most of his crimes, which he said included fondling 50 young girls and indecently exposing himself to 1,000.
Gray has been incarcerated since his last conviction in 1992. After his sentence was served, he was sent to a state hospital in Coalinga. While at the state hospital, Gray underwent treatment and numerous psychological evaluations. According to these evaluations, Gray was qualified to be released through CONREP.
The DA’s Office filed two motions — one to prevent Gray from being housed in a unit off Central Avenue and another to completely block his release. The motion to prevent Gray from being housed in Turlock was approved. However, the motion to completely block his release from the Coalinga hospital was denied, according to the DA’s Office.
DA investigators found that a child is being home-schooled near the proposed location of Gray’s release, which was reportedly not found by Liberty Healthcare during its initial assessment of the property. Liberty is the only organization in California that facilitates CONREP.
Gray’s blocked release came in tandem with the release of another convicted pedophile, Timothy Weathers. Between Gray and Weathers, they have admitted to molesting more than 70 children, according to the DA’s Office. Both are diagnosed with pedophilia disorder.
The pair were to be released to the same location. The argument against Weathers’ release was that the converted barn where he was to be housed was deemed uninhabitable by county inspectors.
Because the motion to not place Gray in Turlock was granted but the motion to completely block his release was not, it could mean that either, or both, men could be released in the area in the future. While the search for a new location would be “kicking the can down the road,” District Attorney Jeff Laugero said the effort to prevent Gray being placed at the Turlock location was in the interest of public safety.
Both Weathers’ and Gray’s cases were put over, to allow time for their attorneys to appeal the judge’s decision.
This story was originally published July 26, 2024 at 1:11 PM.
