Stobaugh's proposed residence, 2171 Peninsula Drive, Manila
On May 7th, the Humboldt County Superior Courts held a hearing to decide whether to release a sexually violent predator (SVP), Richard Stobaugh, into a home in Manila. Three weeks prior to the hearing, Humboldt County Sheriff, William Honsal penned an open letter to the community urging them to speak out against his release to Manila.
Between 1981 and 1988, Stobaugh committed a series of violent rapes in the Humboldt County area. Convicted and incarcerated in 1988, he has now served his 37-and-a-half year sentence and is cleared for release by the Department of State Hospitals.
A large crowd of community members showed up to the hearing in order to voice their opinions. Courtroom One was filled to capacity. A second crowd was outside waiting for the opportunity to enter.
Speaking to community members, the threat of Stobaugh’s release has caused serious concern and anger in Manila. Redwood Coast Montessori teacher Lorna Bryant believes that Manila is an especially vulnerable area, due to its lack of police, its bad lighting, and how spread out it is.
“It’s irresponsible to put a dangerous, violent person just miles away from the location of the first offense he was convicted for,” Bryant said at the hearing. Breeanna Kalson, a mother in the community, restated concerns over the rural challenges of the community.
The hearing was ultimately postponed due to the presentation of hundreds of pages of public feedback provided by the district attorney’s office. The new hearing is scheduled for July. Not only that, there will be an additional hearing on May 21st for the court to review the district attorney’s allegations that Stobaugh was in the possession of child pornography while incarcerated in a state mental hospital.