Officials, residents fight plan to release violent sexual predator in Turlock
The property on North Central Avenue looks like any quiet stretch of rural Turlock — open fields, scattered homes, orchards and school bus stops along narrow, two-lane roads.
But what’s happening there has become a flashpoint of outrage across Stanislaus County.
California officials are seeking to release Kevin Gray — a 73-year-old sexually violent predator who has admitted to molesting more than 50 children — into a home at 400 N. Central Ave. as part of the state’s Conditional Release Program, known as CONREP.
His placement, recommended by state contractor Liberty Healthcare, has sparked fierce backlash from residents, school officials, law enforcement and elected leaders.
Gray would not be the only person housed on the property. The Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office says Liberty also wants to place another violent sexual predator, 62-year-old Timothy Weathers, in a converted barn behind the main home. It’s a structure that county inspectors have deemed uninhabitable.
The Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office is asking a judge to reject the proposal at a court hearing Friday, Aug. 8. In a motion filed on Wednesday, July 30, prosecutors accuse Liberty of failing to conduct proper due diligence and misrepresenting key facts about the neighborhood, including omitting nearby children, school bus stops and a bar just down the street.
DA: “No program or profit margin is worth endangering a child”
“Public safety is my office’s highest priority,” District Attorney Jeff Laugero said in a statement to The Bee. “When organizations like Liberty Healthcare fail to conduct proper due diligence and fail in their responsibility to safeguard our community, we will aggressively challenge their reckless decisions in court.”
Gray’s sex crimes date back 50 years. Court records show he molested children as young as 6 and has confessed to exposing himself to young girls more than 1,000 times, often while under the influence of alcohol. He is currently confined to Coalinga State Hospital but was approved for supervised release through CONREP.
Liberty selected the North Central Avenue site, but critics say the location puts children directly in harm’s way — including those who live nearby, wait at roadside bus stops and attend nearby schools.
“This is not just inappropriate, it’s dangerous,” said Cherise Olvera, superintendent of the Chatom Union School District. “Mr. Gray is a sexually violent predator who is a repeat offender and an alcoholic. Yet they are considering placing him between a bar and neighboring children who match the profile of his past victims.”
Olvera said Liberty never contacted the school district during its assessment. She learned about the placement only after being informed by the District Attorney’s Office.
“The responsibility to protect our children must outweigh the convenience of placement,” she said. “We urge those in authority to act swiftly to prevent this dangerous placement from moving forward and to take the necessary steps to protect our students and community.”
Neighbors: “This is outrageous”
Among the most alarmed residents is Erica Farmer, a Turlock mother of three whose home shares a chain-link fence with the proposed site. She said she received no warning from Liberty and was devastated when she found out.
“My 11-year-old daughter’s bedroom faces the property — we are literally putting bars on her window,” Farmer said. “There’s a bus stop right across the street. There’s a bar nearby. It’s outrageous that Liberty thinks this is a safe location.”
Mindy Bruenn, who lives a few houses down and is helping lead protests, called the company’s report “a gross mischaracterization of the area.”
“Liberty has completely failed to do its job. They never talked to any of us. They claim this is an isolated location — it’s not. This is a family neighborhood,” Bruenn said. “They’re using our tax dollars to endanger us.”
The California Department of State Hospitals oversees the CONREP program but contracts with Liberty Healthcare to handle community placements. Asked about the controversy, Liberty Healthcare redirected questions to the state.
In a statement to The Bee, the California Department of State Hospitals said it is “aware and involved in all site assessments” conducted by Liberty Healthcare and outlined a multi-step process for evaluating placement locations. That process includes internal clinical and legal reviews, notification to local law enforcement and district attorneys, and a 30-day public comment period before a court hearing.
“DSH does not place individuals designated as SVP at a placement location unless the court has reviewed and approved of the location,” the department said. It also said that Liberty is required to consider proximity to schools, parks, and victim profiles — and that placements can be modified or withdrawn in response to local feedback.
In its motion, the DA’s Office said Liberty’s latest report excluded interviews with neighbors, law enforcement and school officials. It also failed to note key community locations like a bowling alley and arcade — places Gray admitted to visiting to groom past victims.
State senator, sheriff oppose plan
State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil, who represents the area, called the plan “flat-out unacceptable.”
“Kevin Gray is flat-out unfit to live in any community,” she said in a statement. “With decades of horrific crimes, including molesting over 25 children, his age does not lessen the threat he poses or the trauma he’s inflicted on his victims and their families. … I will continue fighting to stop Kevin Gray’s release and the release of any sexually violent predator into Stanislaus County.”
Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse agreed, calling the location “completely unsuitable.”
“Liberty has not engaged with my office on site selection given the new information,” Dirkse said. “While I don’t think he should be released at all, we also understand the legal mandates and stand ready to work with Liberty to identify a site or sites. The DA and I are in full alignment on protecting our community.”
“They’ve lost us”
Candace Gonsalves, a Ceres mother and organizer of several protests, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the plan. She said Liberty’s handling of the process has shattered public trust.
“They’ve lost us,” she said. “This company should be bending over backwards to earn our trust and keep our children safe. But they failed entirely. They left out the bus stops. They left out the arcade. They never spoke with the neighbors or law enforcement. Either they’re incompetent or they’re trying to deceive the court.”
Gonsalves is pushing for new laws that would prevent contractors like Liberty from overpaying for housing — a practice she says has encouraged landlords to accept high-risk placements. She also wants a ban on placing multiple sexually violent predators in the same community and greater independence in psychological evaluations.
“How is it that Liberty does the housing, the monitoring and the evaluations? That’s a huge conflict of interest,” she said. “They have a doctor who says, ‘He (Gray) just admitted to me that he’s still having these sexual desires with children,’ but they still think he should be let out. Because why? Because they’re getting paid.”
What’s next
Friday’s court hearing could determine whether Gray is placed at the North Central Avenue property or if Liberty will be required to find another location. A hearing on the placement of Weathers is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15.
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A protest is planned outside Stanislaus County Superior Court before the hearing. Gonsalves, Farmer and Bruenn are among the community members who plan to attend.
Modesto police said they are aware of the scheduled protest and are monitoring developments.
“We make every effort to stay informed about events occurring throughout the city and respond appropriately based on the size, scope, and unique circumstances of each incident,” said MPD spokesperson Sharon Bear. “A determination regarding any necessary resources or public safety measures will be made based on the information we gather leading up to the day of the event.”
“I would just encourage everyone to show up,” Gonsalves said. “Unless this gets attention, it’s going to be another thing that gets swept under. At minimum, people need to be aware — because I guarantee you at some point he will pop up next to you.”
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 12:49 PM.
