ACSOL today protested the attempts of Placer County to block release of registrant William Stephenson, who has been designated a sexually violent predator (SVP) in that county. The protest took place outside Placer County Superior Court about an hour before a hearing was held regarding the registrant’s release. ACSOL leaders Sherri Harlow and Janice Bellucci were interviewed by local media including KCRA3, CBS13 and Fox News. Roger Hunnicutt, a member of the Family Safety Foundation board of directors, also joined the protest.
“We showed up, stood up and spoke up today in order to oppose attempts by this county to block the release of a member of the registrant community,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci.
Despite the protest, the judge denied the registrant’s release because a home for him has not yet been identified by Liberty Healthcare, a company contracted by the Department of State Hospitals for that and other purposes. The judge expressed his frustration in court, noting that the company provided him with an 11-page letter on this topic less than 24 hours before the hearing that failed to identify a residence for Mr. Stephenson.
Also during the hearing, the judge granted a motion to intervene in the case filed by Crime Victims United (CVU). As a result, CVU will be able to directly participate in future court proceedings as a representative of not only the victims of this registrant but as a representative of all victims of sexual abuse.
The next hearing on this matter was scheduled for September 20 in Dept.42 of Placer County Superior Court in Roseville.
Despite rain and wind, ACSOL delivered an important message today. Placer County needs to pay attention to the experts who have declared Mr. Stephenson safe to return to the community. The county’s efforts to block his release are misguided at best and possibly cruel.
Why was CVU allowed to chime in on the registrant’s release? The registrant’s sentencing has already been levied. It feels like another bite into the sentencing apple, which would be akin to double jeopardy.
Victim rights people have no place at this hearing! None of their interests are implicated here in this case as this has nothing to do with justice for victims. The judge made a mistake by admitting that victims’ organization to these proceedings. This has to do with this man being released into the community in a timely manner, that justice be done. The victims’ rights people are only seeking to punish this man more.
I would freak out and wet my pants if I stood in front of a television camera like that. Janice does it with class. She truly is our hero
Even though I am a tier-3 registrant, I wasn’t afraid to hold the sign in the background while the news crew took photos and video of Janice. The reason is that I wore a Covid mask (which I removed for the photo on this page that Janice took).
We hope that more registrants and supporters will overcome their fear and join us for future. Just wear a Covid mask and you will be anonymous! No, you don’t have to speak to the news crews. Janice does that.
If we just try to hide in our rabbit holes and hope that if we are quiet they will leave us alone, we will be very surprised when the politicians continue to pass laws that reach into our rabbit holes and drag us out by our ears. Think of the many minority population groups in history, such as gays, who finally realized this and began fighting for civil rights. Their fight continues, but they have come a long way.
If we can get justice for an SVP like this guy, it will help all registrants.
I don’t feel like a victim of bad laws when I am fighting for justice like this. A victim stops feeling like a victim when he or she fights back. It feels good! Come join us at future events.
Roger:
Your courage is greatly appreciated and encouraging. I have learned the same thing that you have learned. People on the registry have to have the courage to stand up and fight. You are 100% correct. If people on the registry stay in their rabbit holes there will be no change.
People look at Derek Logue and believe that they have put themselves out front and be like him in order to be effective. This isn’t true. Derek Logue is without a doubt the most courageous person in this movement. He also does things that pisses people off on both sides of this debate. Derek has a lot of detractors even in the antiregistry movement. However, what people overlook is that Derek would never know what works and what doesn’t if he lacked the courage to put his face front and center.
The reason that I support Derek Logue is not because of the controversies that surround him, but because he has been learning what works and has been becoming more effective over time. I believe that Derek Logue’s efforts will lead to serious change in the registry in the long run as he improves his game.
Thanks to your courage Roger and the courage of people like Derek Logue, I believe that change will occur. Change will occur faster if more people on the registry learn to stand up and fight.