STATE WITHDRAWS DETENTION OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PERPETRATOR IN POWAY

Wakefield, 67, was convicted of sexual conduct with a child in 1981 and of brutal rape in 1990. He served time in prison and was treated at a state hospital. He was diagnosed as a sexually violent offender with a high likelihood of recidivism and his release was proposed locally three times. A judge rejected a proposed placement in the Mt. Helix area; the state later withdrew the proposed placement in Borrego Springs and required Wakefield to undergo additional treatment.

Supervisor Joel Anderson wrote a letter to Judge Yvonne Esperanza Campos opposing Wakefield’s placement in Poway and circulated a petition for his constituents to sign. In his letter, Anderson said Liberty Healthcare, the contractor for the State Dept. of Hospitals’ conditional release program, “continues to target East San Diego as a dumping ground for SVPs.”

Anderson points out that in our 4,200-square-mile county, not a single sex offender has been released to Supervisorial Districts 1, 3 or 4. Wakefield’s release would have resulted in 70 percent of the sex offenders currently serving our region being placed in Anderson’s District 2 and the rest in Supervisor Jim Desmond’s District 5.

Anderson noted that Poway is a family-friendly community and is ranked as the eighth safest city in California in 2024. In addition, he requested that all SVP appointments proposed by Liberty be delayed until a Legislative Audit Committee audit of Liberty Healthcare requested by Senator Brian Jones is completed.

Poway Mayor Steve Vaus welcomed the news that the state has withdrawn Wakefield’s planned supervised release in Poway. On X, Vaus posted “Victory!” and added, “POWAY’S voice has been heard – not here, not now, not ever.”