Judge: Sex Offender to Move to Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs residents say they believe Terry Stone will be ostracized if moved to their small desert community

A convicted pedophile who served time in prison and a state hospital will be released to live in Borrego Springs, a San Diego judge ruled Tuesday.

More than 500 signatures have been collected in protest of a plan to place Terry Stone in the small desert town east of San Diego with approximately 1500 year-round residents.

Stone committed lewd acts against 5 different young victims under the age of 11.

In 1994, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison, and in 2003, he was committed to the state hospital as a sexually violent predator.

One month ago, the Department of State Hospitals proposed letting Stone live on Frying Pan Road under a conditional release basis.

The home is on a half- acre with no fence and according to residents it is in a residential community, less than two miles from schools, the Boys & Girls Club and a local park.

"Always worry about whether or not your windows are down, your doors are locked, your curtains are down because someone's now a sexual predator -- a violent sexual predator -- moving into the neighborhood," said Borrego Springs resident Tracey Alexander.

Judge Frederick Maguire ruled  Monday Stone would be relocated to the small community where he will have 24-hour supervision initially with weekly treatment and random searches by law enforcement officers.

Two residents told NBC 7 they believe Stone will be ostracized.

"When he's on his own, who's to say he didn't leave the house in the middle of the night? Who's to say he didn't leave the house in the middle of the day?" said Fred Jee, a Borrego Springs resident. 

Some said they want to take this case to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors asking for legislation that would require sexually violent predators to live in trailers near the prisons or state hospitals.

Stone's attorney said his client has been under successful treatment for more than 10 years.

He said Stone needs help from the community to get better and that no one wants to see him succeed more than Stone himself.

A previous proposal to place Stone in Spring Valley was denied.

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