Sexually violent predator may not be released in Turlock, but hurdles remain
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Judge's earlier block of Turlock home was overturned, allowing release plan.
- Prosecutors now seek alternate site with no neighbors or nearby children.
- Defense and prosecution discuss quick placement on remote state property.
Convicted serial child sex offender Kevin Gray, 72, may not be released to the Turlock location that ignited outcry from residents, legislators, school officials, law enforcement and prosecutors in the past year.
Gray was convicted of four 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. He’s been incarcerated since his last conviction in 1992. After his sentence was served, he was sent to a state hospital in Coalinga.
Gray was set to be released into a home at 400 N. Central Ave. in Turlock as part of the state’s conditional-release program. That location was blocked by Judge Carrie Stephens last year. However, the ruling was appealed and a new ruling last month sided in Gray’s favor — repaving the path for him to be placed there.
Despite the setback, prosecutors continued to fight Gray’s release to the Turlock location. But at the same time, they entered into talks with Gray’s defense about placing him at a new location.
The talks were brought to light at a hearing Friday that many thought would be continued litigation against the Turlock location. But Gray’s attorney, Martin Baker, told the court there could be “a different placement altogether, but one that could perhaps be put together very, very quickly and with no anticipated objections.”
“We’re trying to find an alternative that would be more suitable for everyone and one that could be established in very short order without any opposition,” Baker said.
Details on where that could be were not shared. However, both Baker and Deputy District Attorney Wendell Emerson implied Gray could be placed in a trailer on state property in a rural area. Emerson said the prosecution would need it to be in an area “with no neighbors” and very far away from any children.
Emerson stated the DA’s Office is, however, racing against the clock. Because Gray was ordered to be released five years ago and his due process rights stipulate such, he’s nearing eligibility for what’s known as transient release — where sexually violent predators are released without a permanent address.
“Transient release would be a worst-case scenario. It’s in the interest of public safety to find a location where he will be housed and monitored,” Emerson said.
The concern the DA’s Office has with transient release is its recidivism rates. According to a CBS News investigation, sexually violent predators on transient release have a 50% failure rate.
The parties that need to agree on a new location include Gray’s defense, the DA’s Office, the California Department of State Hospitals and Liberty Healthcare. The latter is a state contractor, the only organization in California that facilitates the conditional release of sexually violent predators.
The announcement that talks were underway regarding a new location was news to Jan Hu, who appeared virtually at the Friday hearing representing DSH. Hu said there should be collaboration among the parties. A new location would need to be reviewed for GPS signal strength, a forensic analysis and a clinical analysis by law.
“From a supervision standpoint, there may be issues later on that arise that are unforeseeable,” Hu said.
To avoid any legal issues, Hu said she would organize a meeting with a housing committee that incorporated all parties.
As with almost all other hearings and court dates for Gray, a crowd of protesters gathered outside the courthouse on Friday. Protesters include residents who live near the proposed site in Turlock. One of them was Candice Gonsalves, who lives a couple of miles away from it. She said she was satisfied with hearing that a new location could be selected for Gray.
“I support that idea, as long as the necessary precautions are going to be taken care of,” said Gonsalves. “It’s extremely important that children are not around him ... but I am pleased that he’s going to be moved to away from us.”
Gray’s next hearing will be Aug. 21, which will declare the status of the parties’ negotiations. Gray appeared at Friday’s hearing virtually.
This story was originally published August 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM.
