KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
The upcoming release of Lawtis Donald Rhoden sparked an outcry from Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger Wednesday, with the announcement that the convicted serial child rapist may be released in Lancaster, just northeast of Santa Clarita.
Orange County Superior Court has scheduled an upcoming hearing to consider Lancaster as a possible placement location for Rhoden, a serial rapist who has been convicted of numerous sex crimes against at least five teenage girls.
Barger referred to Rhoden, who was convicted of raping several teenage girls across three different states, as a “sexually violent predator who has committed heinous crimes against women and girls across multiple regions over the past 50 years.”
Prior to the placement hearing, Barger is imploring the community to voice their concerns with the Orange County Court, which is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Orange County Superior Court.
Rhoden’s case is the second proposed placement of a sexually violent predator in the Antelope Valley in the past several months, following the release of Calvin Grassmier who was recently placed in the Sun Village and Littlerock area.
“Enough is enough,” Barger said when notified of the potential placement. “This is becoming an issue of equity and we cannot allow the North County to be a recurrent location for violent criminals who have no nexus or connection to the area.”
The repeat offender, who was first convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Florida, has received a proposed placement address on the 48000 block of 25th Street East in Lancaster, approximately eight miles from the nearest Sheriff’s Station, according to Barger.
“The location is also a considerable distance from any support programs and essential care services,” Barger noted. “The rural terrain has unreliable cell phone and GPS service, which would be problematic for the 24/7 monitoring that will be necessary to ensure community safety.”
Rhoden has had a history of reoffending after raping his first known victim a total of three times and was later convicted through a plea agreement of one felony lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14-years, according to San Bernardino County’s District Attorney’s Office.
After being sentenced to 14-months in a state mental hospital and 12-years in state prison where he was treated for his “inability to control his sexual drive for young girls,” he was paroled and went on to sexually assault at least four children in two states.
“Rhoden was convicted of rape by force, forceful sexual penetration, sexual battery, and two counts of forcible rape stemming from crimes he committed in Orange County and Los Angeles County, California in April and June 1984,” read a statement from San Bernardino County’s District Attorney’s Office.
These sexual assault charges were committed across three separate incidents against two 14-year-old girls and one 17-year-old girl where the victims were lured under the guise that Rhoden was a photographer offering modeling photoshoots, according to San Bernardino County’s District Attorney’s Office.
While these allegations were being investigated, Rhoden sexually assaulted his fifth known victim in Nashville and was subsequently convicted of rape and use of a minor for obscene purposes.
“The State of Tennessee sentenced Rhoden to 20 years in state prison, the Orange County Superior Court sentenced him to 12 years in state prison, and the Los Angeles County Superior Court sentenced him to six years in state prison,” read a statement from San Bernardino County’s District Attorney’s Office.
Now 71-year-old Rhoden has completed his sentencing and the Orange County Superior Court determined Orange County as Rhoden’s official ‘place of domicile,’ and in 2019 ruled that he can be conditionally released to the community, according to Barger.
“Any proposed placements suggested by the Conditional Release Program, the state contractor responsible for identifying possible locations, should be within Orange County,” Barger said after finding out that officials are considering Lancaster as a possible release location. “I find it hard to believe that none have been found, forcing the search to extend to Los Angeles and other surrounding counties.”
Placements outside the county of domicile can be made if the court acknowledges extraordinary circumstances under the Sexually Violent Predator Act, as is the case for Rhoden.
The Orange County Superior Court has scheduled a hearing on Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. where they are expected to make their final release decision, only after they hear from the community.
Prior to the placement hearing, Barger is imploring the community to voice their concerns with the Orange County Court, which is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the Orange County Superior Court.
Concerns and comments regarding Rhoden’s placement should be sent before October 19, 2021 to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who is compiling all submissions to share with the court, counsel for Rhoden, and the Department of State Hospitals.
To leave a comment, email [email protected] or send in a physical copy to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office at 9425 Penfield Ave., #3210, Chatsworth, CA 91311.
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Voting has consequences. Until people vote different, get used to this.
100%. People need to stop voting for individuals and how they look and present. This is about ideology. Law and order vs “criminal reform” e.g. chaos and criminals running things. plain and simple.
Learn what these code words mean as it is usually the opposite of how they are presented.
Yes “Code Words” is a Euphemism for: Deceit, PC, trickery, lies, fooling, slickness, etc. that unfortunately works on the Sheeple!
No. The events of the past 11 months have proven we have completely lost the “right” to fair and honest elections. I have no idea what we can do now.
Oh is Trump in town?
Alice in Wonderland, Stupid & Immature comment!
Truth hurt’s doesn’t it? Look up the facts, at least 26 different women have accused Trump of groping, unwanted touching, assault and rape.This obscene, disgusting and illegal behavior has been going on since the 1970s. Now you may excuse this type of behavior, but that certainly reveals a lack of maturity and intelligence on your part doesn’t it.
Next.
O, the double standards and hypocrisy of the loony left. We’ve all seen Gropey Joe do creepy things to children ON CAMERA and get a total pass.
The Democrat’s ability to find women to lie in exchange for money (such as Christine Blasey Ford’s $1M GoFundMe payout) does not impress me.
Here’s a truth that hurts all of us: The Democrats are the reason why pedophiles like the one in this article are being released to rape more children instead of being executed in the first place like they should have been. We’re all suffering from the results of Democrat’s notions of justice.
He won’t last too long wherever he goes!
Maybe he could live with Bird Gang Gang, Rick Jacobs, Sexy Vegan, Jeffrey Tobin, Ron Jeremy?!
Alice in wonderland don’t waste your posts on here
Veronica and Get_CA_Sane are right on the money. People need to start voting on the issues that plague America and not how someone looks. We are rapidly moving away from a capitalistic country to a socialistic country. I am starting to feel very stressed by World events.
Alice in Wonderland, I don’t think there is any hope for you. You are so small minded. Do you even realize that Joe Biden has been accused of sexual misconduct too? He has! To even mention Trump after reading this article, truly is small minded! Is Trump the only person you think about?
Pastor Jeff, While we are called upon to forgive that has nothing to do with trust. Releasing this depraved man back into society is dangerous! Trust is not the same as forgiveness.
The crux of the issue here is that Northern Los Angeles County is becoming the dumping ground for California’s “rehabilitated” criminals. To protect our children and our communities, we should raise our voices to stop this “dumping”.
TAP, Leigh & Christy, Truthful/factual words well spoken! The Liberals are & have ruined every city they touch with their pointed fingers like, Chicago/ Baltimore/ NY/ Minneapolis/ Kenosha/ NY/ Seattle to LA, etc, Facts/Truths!!
DeSantis in Florida, Hutchison in Arkansas,Abbott in Texas, Reeves in Mississippi, Ivey in Alabama, Kemp in Georgia, Noem in South Dakota, and Lee in Tennessee; all Republicans, all Governors. All states with the highest number of Covid deaths/cases because they care more about party loyalty than the the lives of their constituents. They are ignorant fear mongers loyal to the twice impeached one term disgraced former President. They are not loyal to this country or our people, what they are is willing to barter with people’s lives, children’s well being, their state’s economy and continue to perpetuate the baseless and false narrative of election fraud. Oh yes, these Red states are killing it and each other. What a joke. So take your unhinged, truth challenged, distorted reality and ponder that you idiot.
Biden and his administration’s approval ratings are sinking faster than Ted Kennedy’s Oldsmobile and COVID is the least of his problems.Alice you may wanna lay off the southern comfort and dry out for awhile.
Did you just come in on the train from Willoughby?
Hint: It is a Twilight Zone episode. I am sure you will get the meaning. Just ponder a bit.
Oh Alice, I feel so sorry for you. President Trump encouraged the American people to get vaccinated. He repeated this encouragement over and over. Get your facts right! But what about the 200,000 immigrants that have crossed the border this year under Biden’s ridiculous open borders. None of them are even checked for COVID-19 – much less any criminal history. They have just been released into our country to do whatever. So ponder that you idiot.
Leigh, Remember Mathew 7: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? I will pray for this man as well as you my child Leigh.
Alice in Wonderland, there are far more serious things plaguing our country than the dreaded Covid, and they’re all being allowed/pushed by the Demonic Liberals! Look at the Degradation in all cities run by Liberals and their ilks lifestyles! Wake up, not Woke up—-it’s not working!