State hospital officials withdraw planned release of sex offender in Poway

The planned conditional release of a man classified as a sexually violent offender to a Poway home has been rescinded, it was announced Friday.

The California Department of State Hospitals recommended that 67-year-old Merle Wade Wakefield be placed in a home on Sycamore Canyon Road. This is the third time state authorities have sought to place Wakefield in a home in the community.

A court hearing was scheduled for next month at which a judge would decide whether Wakefield would be released to the home.

The California Department of State Hospitals could not immediately be reached for comment on the reasons for revoking Wakefield’s placement.

Poway Mayor Steve Vaus wrote in a statement sent to X: “Victory! The proposed housing of sex offender Merle Wakefield on Sycamore Canyon Road is off the table. POWAY’s voice has been heard – not here, not now, not ever!”

Wakefield is considered a sexually violent offender. This category includes people who have been convicted of sexual violence and have been diagnosed with a mental disorder that increases the likelihood that the person will reoffend.

After serving their prison sentence, SVPs are treated in state hospitals, but can also apply to the court to continue treatment in outpatient facilities, where they are monitored by GPS, among other things.

Wakefield was convicted of lewd acts with a child in 1981 and of rape by force or fear in 1990 and was sentenced to prison both times, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.

A judge had previously rejected a recommendation that Wakefield be placed in a home in the Mount Helix community. It was also recommended that he be released to a home in Borrego Springs, but Liberty Healthcare, which runs the state’s conditional release program for sex offenders, requested that Wakefield undergo additional treatment and the release did not occur.

Liberty Healthcare has stated that no IBO has reoffended in the program’s history. While some IBOs have had their parole revoked for violations of release conditions, Liberty officials said none of those violations were due to new sex offenses.