A judge heard testimony March 6 over whether he should order another sexually violent predator to be released with conditions in Jacumba Hot Springs.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Jay Bloom told the audience he drove out to view the house on Old Highway 80 where Michael James Poulsom, 60, would live.
Bloom said the site is on mostly vacant land for 1-2 miles and there were two abandoned houses somewhat nearby. He said Poulsom has signed a 17-page agreement of conditions.
Bloom took the matter under submission and will rule later. He heard from County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Jacumba resident Alice Keyser, and others who spoke against Poulsom’s release.
The only speaker in favor was Poulsom’s attorney. Poulsom is housed at a state mental hospital in Coalinga as his prison term has ended, and he had waived his right to be personally present for the hearing.
A relative of Poulsom who lives in Lakeside read letters from her two cousins whom she says were molested by Poulsom many years ago.
“He’s an excellent manipulator. He’s also a dangerous predator,” said the relative. “I know in my heart it’s not if Michael Poulsom will re-offend, but when.”
“This man is not remorseful,” said the relative. “He will always be a pedophile.”
She told the judge that Poulsom “found God” in recent years and is using religion as a cover.
“We’re overloaded with perverts,” said Keyser, who noted that other SVPs have been released in the back country area where she lives.
“The people are not safe in Jacumba or East County. Please don’t place him there,” said Keyser. “We have too many and there are other places more appropriate.”
Bloom told her that Poulsom would be required to wear an ankle monitor. Keyser said the ankle monitors “are not safe” because sometimes they fail if the battery is too low.
Keyser said sheriff’s deputies in the area are not on duty at night.
A spokeswoman for Liberty Healthcare, the agency that contracts with the state to monitor SVPs who are released, said deputies would be called at home at night if there is an emergency.
“Jacumba Hot Springs is the home of the SVPs,” said Mary Taylor. “Please reconsider. Don’t over burden this community.”
Deputy District Attorney Nicole Roth said her office is opposed to Poulsom’s release. Jacob was also opposed.
“Please don’t dump another SVP in East County,” said Jacob. “Clearly there is an over concentration of SVPs out there.”
Once again Jacob brought up how one offender was temporarily released to a trailer on the grounds of the R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility. The Department of Corrections is opposed to doing that again.
“If it’s no longer available, I don’t think there’s a whole lot I can do about it,” said the judge.
The trailer that was used for that one offender is now considered not habitable.
Even if the Department of Corrections were to change its policy to allow trailers on prison grounds for ex-offenders, there is no other trailer available.
Jacob suggested sending Poulsom to Georgia since he is from there. Bloom said he didn’t have authority to send him to another state.
Poulsom was convicted in Georgia in 1985 of molestation. He moved to San Diego County and was convicted of committing a lewd act upon a child in 1989.
In 1995, Poulsom was convicted of molesting another child and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Before he could be paroled, he was found to be an SVP and committed to a hospital in 2011.