Just over two weeks ago, an Orange County court found “extraordinary circumstances” existed to authorize relocating Lawtis Rhoden, a sexually violent predator, outside of Orange County, and chose Twentynine Palms as a possible location for him to live. Rhoden, who has no ties to San Bernardino County or the Morongo Basin, was convicted of raping five girls, aged 13 to 17, between 1969 and 1984 in three states. He was declared a sexually violent predator by a California jury in 2004 and has spent the better part of the last 20 years in a treatment facility specifically for sexual predators.
Last night, the City of Twentynine Palms held a special meeting with representatives from the District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Department, Congressman Jay Obernolte, and County Supervisor Dawn Rowe to discuss the situation and what residents can do as a community to fight this relocation. Reporter Cassidy Taylor was there and brings you this special report…
“I’m feeling like there’s a judge in Orange County that doesn’t even know where Twentynine Palms is.” – Congressman Jay Olbernolte
Congressman Jay Olbernolte joined residents and representatives of Twentynine Palms who came fired up to get some answers on the relocation of a sexually violent predator, Lawtis Rhoden, to the Morongo Basin.
County Supervisor Dawn Rowe told Z107.7 News that this relocation cannot happen.
“We are not a dumping ground for any other county. It is completely inappropriate to put a sexually violent predator out here, near people, near families, near schools.”
What this comes down to is protecting the residents of Twentynine Palms and not putting more responsibilities on the Sheriff. Nearly every official present argued that since Rhoden is not from here, he shouldn’t be our responsibility.
Twentynine Palms resident, Ashley Claire, lives close to the proposed location of Rhoden and worries about the safety of her young daughter.
“My daughter is 14, she’s turning 15, and I personally know of about five girls who live within walking distance of this location.”
For this reporter, it’s personal, as I also live in the area near the proposed relocation of Lawtis Rhoden.
To join in the fight with the District Attorney, County Supervisor Rowe says residents must get involved.
“Our residents need to stand up, write their passionate letters and send them in, and keep them professional. They can send them to me, they can send them to the District Attorney, and that is the most important thing. We need the personal stories to keep him out.”
Representatives from the District Attorney’s office said that Lawtis Rhoden is a very real threat to the Morongo Basin. In the past, he has posed as a photographer for a modeling agency and will follow young girls walking alone. He would convince them into his vehicle and then drive them to a remote location and violently rape them. He has done this to multiple girls in multiple states. If placed in Twentynine Palms, the representative that would monitor Rhoden from Liberty Healthcare, is located over two hours away.
Concerned community members are urged to sign a community petition and submit comments directly to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office. Representatives from the city and county emphasize remaining professional in your comments and telling personal stories about the impact of Lawtis Rhoden’s proposed location on yourself and your family. You do not need to live in Twentynine Palms to take a stand against the location of Rhoden and can share the petition with friends and family throughout the entire Morongo Basin. The deadline to submit comments to the District Attorney is April 6.
The Town of Yucca Valley also released a statement yesterday condemning the proposed relocation of Lawtis Rhoden to a county and city where he has no ties.
Email:
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
[email protected]
Mail:
San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office Attn: Deputy District Attorney Maureen O’Connell
303 West 3rd Street, 4th Floor San Bernardino, CA, 92415-0502
Community Petition:
http://chng.it/CpQBkPBZ
