A judge has ordered the conditional release of a sexually violent predator(SVP) to a house in Jacumba Hot Springs where a previous SVP had lived.
Thomas Joseph Cornwell, at 41, is the youngest SVP to be released in San Diego County and the order from San Diego Superior Court Judge Albert Harutunian III says it should occur “on or about Jan. 31, 2020.”
“Placement in a rural, less densely populated portion of the county is beneficial to the safety of the public,” stated Harutunian.
“Limiting the exposures to temptations and access to potential victims enhances public safety and increases the likelihood that the condition release placement will succeed,” wrote Harutunian, who added that since another SVP was located at the same house is another reason to support it.
Harutunian ruled over the Christmas break after a public hearing Dec. 19 in which three people protested the placement. There were also four letters which were read by the judge regarding the release at the house on McCain Valley Road.
Cornwell is currently at Coalinga State Hospital, where he received treatment after finishing an 8-year prison sentence for molesting two children in 2008. He has been either in jail, prison, or the hospital for 11 years.
Cornwell has “now met the criteria for safe conditional release to CONREP(Conditional Release Program),” wrote Harutunian.
David Forrester, who represents Liberty Healthcare, an agency that contracts with the state, told the judge at the hearing there were no incidents of SVPs re-offending after being released in San Diego County. Some went afoul of the rules and restrictions and were sent back to Coalinga.
Harutunian previously conducted a trial some months ago and he determined that Cornwell could be released. The opinion notes that the hospital has now recommended Cornwell’s release, but not when Cornwell first petitioned for release.
The District Attorney’s office opposed the release, but the judge wrote they did not meet their burden of proof to show that he would re-offend. County Supervisor Dianne Jacob also opposed the release.
Alice Keyser, a property owner in nearby Boulevard, said at the Dec. 19 hearing that East County is “overflowing with sexual offenders” and “we don’t feel safe.”
“The court reluctantly concludes the proposed placement in Jacumba meets all the statutory criteria for conditional release set by the legislature” wrote the judge.
