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Serial rapist Christopher Hubbart
Serial rapist Christopher Hubbart

Judge Issues Gag Order On Serial Rapist’s Release

Court officials have yet to release the findings in the parole-revocation hearing held Wednesday for serial rapist Christopher Hubbart.


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Hubbart, 64, was convicted of raping more than 40 women in the 1970s-1980s. He was paroled to Lake Los Angeles on July 9, 2014.

Santa Clara County Judge Richard Loftus issued a gag order restricting the release information about the case from being made public, officials said Wednesday.

Loftus has 90 days to issue a decision of where Hubbart will be released, officials said.

Previous story — April 12, 2015

District Attorney Lacey said she was pleased with the court ruling.

“We believe this violent predator continues to pose a serious danger to our community,” she said. “My office is committed to protecting the public.”

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Richard Loftus approved a request by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to consider revoking Hubbart’s conditional release. The 10 a.m. hearing will be open to the public and held at Santa Clara County Superior Court, Department 32.

In July 2014, Santa Clara County Judge Gilbert Brown, now retired, granted Hubbart’s motion for conditional release from a state hospital and allowed him to live at a Lake Los Angeles residence.

Previous story — May 23, 2014

A Santa Clara County judge’s release of Christopher Evans Hubbart sparked an outcry from Los Angeles County officials Friday, with the announcement that the convicted serial rapist would be released to a Lake Los Angeles community in Antelope Valley.

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich called the release of Hubbart — who admitted to raping 26 women in the Los Angeles area in the early 1970s and an additional 15 in Northern California in the early 1980s — “an unconscionable threat to public safety.”

Hubbart, known as “the Pillowcase Rapist,” is expected to live at 20135 E. Ave R in an unincorporated part of the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County.

“Despite the best efforts by the Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, Judge Brown refused to order Hubbart to undergo a new mental health evaluation to determine his mental state prior to his release,” Antonovich said.  “His last mental health evaluation was fifteen months ago.”

Both Antonovich and Lacey issued statements condemning the move Friday.

His parole was revoked numerous times due to the nature of his convictions, concerns about his mental condition and the threat he could pose to public safety, according to a statement from the District Attorney’s Office.

“The Judge’s order failed to consider the objections by law enforcement as well as the grave concerns expressed by the community who sent thousands of opposition letters,” he said. “It’s outrageous that an admitted sexual predator with a long history of brutal crimes against women be released in this community – or any community.”

Assemblyman Steve Fox, D-Antelope Valley, who also represents the area Hubbart is expected to be released to, made a statement following legislation he proposed in the the Legislature.

Assembly Bill 1607, which passed unanimously, would make a technical revision to the Sexual Violent Predator Act and require that a potential county a sexual violent predator would be released back to, to be given notice and an opportunity to be heard in court prior to determining the location where the offender will be required to live.

Once the court determines domicile, the placement and conditional release will be supervised by the county of residence – transferring the jurisdiction from one court to another.

“The court has made a horrendous error in judgment in deciding to place this parolee into Lake Los Angeles,” Fox said. “This is an unfair decision that flies in the face of the traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice. We are being dumped on.”

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Judge Issues Gag Order On Serial Rapist’s Release

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About Jessica Boyer

Jessica is an award-winning journalist, photographer, videographer and artist. She has worked with news organizations including NBC Los Angeles, KHTS AM 1220, and the Pierce College Roundup News. She is studying to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis on Photojournalism and a minor in Communications at California State University, Northridge. She has studied and worked in many fields including filmmaking, journalism, studio photography, and some graphic design. She began her journalism journey at the Arroyo Seco Conquestador News Network and the Saugus High School News Network.