A San Diego judge allowed the supervised release of a convicted sexual predator, known as the “Bolder Than Most Rapist,” on Monday.
In 1989, Alvin Quarles was sentenced to prison for 50 years after being convicted of a series of sexual assaults in the 1980s that involved 14 different victims -- four of whom were raped at knifepoint.
The judge ruled that Quarles will be conditionally released, but has not decided where. Jacumba Hot Springs was under consideration but a rental agreement eventually fell through, prompting prosecutors and a county supervisor to ask the judge to reconsider his decision.
“If I had my pick, I think we ought to put him right next to Judge Gill’s house," County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said.
Supervisor Jacob criticized the decision to allow Quarles' release, and said input from the community, including Quarles' survivors, were not taken into consideration.
"We were not privy to any of the evidence that was presented that was talked about for days. We were completely left out of the process. That is a big problem. This man is dangerous. He has a chance of recommitting, so he’s a danger to the public so the public has a right to know what was in the judge’s mind, what evidence was before the judge and why he made the decision he did," Jacob said.
The supervisor said Quarles will never integrate into a community because his neighbors won't want him there, and recommended he be placed outside of the county far away from his survivors.
Survivor Mary Taylor said fighting Quarles release has been an uphill battle.
“I want to ask Judge Gill how I’m supposed to accept this decision when I’ve been completely cut out of it. For 30 years the courts have been doing things in secret and making deals. That’s how he got the 50-year sentence that really ended up being 25. This was just one more kick in the gut," Taylor said.
Survivor Cynthia Medina told NBC 7 she was disappointed by the judge's decision, but not surprised.
"Can I say I’m relieved because I don’t have to come back again next year? Yes. But do I fear what he will do? Yes," she said.
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Median said Judge Gill told her and other survivors that his decision was based in part on it being improbable that Quarles would reoffend.
“He’s a f----ing idiot. He’s an idiot. That’s all I have to say about judge Gill. He has no compassion for the community. He has no compassion for us. I’m getting more and more upset. I’m tired.”
In 2014, after serving 25 years in prison, Quarles was up for parole. However, before he was released, the District Attorney’s office filed a motion to commit him to a state mental hospital, where he has been requesting to be released from.
It wasn’t until October 2018 when the judge deemed Quarles fit to be released back into the community under a conditional release program.
Residents near Quarles’ proposed home and survivors of his assaults came together to protest the judge’s decision to release the convicted rapist.
In January, the judge ruled that Quarles would not be released to Jacumba Hot Springs for the time being.
“The good news is he's still in a locked facility. And, our voices have power, if our community hadn't gathered together and said no, I think he'd be walking the streets now,” Taylor said.
If the judge rules to continue to review the case, witness testimony and a new psychological evaluation will be ordered. And then at a later hearing, the judge could decide to release Quarles or keep him in custody.
Both Supervisor Jacob and Taylor said they weren't allowed to hear any witness testimony at any hearings.
