In 1972, a 18 year old girl was forcibly raped, and then murdered with a cleaver. Again in 1979, two more women were sexually assaulted in separate attacks on the same day. And then, on the same day in separate attacks three more women were sexually assaulted in 1981. Six violent attacks, within less than ten years- all from the same man- who was first convicted as a minor in the original rape/murder case.
Michael Etchison, the man responsible for these heinous crimes actually ran out of luck- and served the longest sentence for the last set of crimes- 26 years. In 1996, California's sexual predator law came into effect, coinciding with the release of Etchison from prison. However after spending the majority of his adult life incarcerated, the new law gave officials the opportunity to confine in state mental hospitals sex criminals who complete their sentences but are determined by doctors to have a mental disorder and likely to re-offend- and Etchison was one of the those confined.
Superior Court Judge Carl Holm said he does not feel Etchison poses a threat to society and sided with the defense, finding that Etchison did not fit the standard of a "violent sexual predator", and therefore ruled that he be released. Etchison walked out of custody from the county jail in Redwood City at 12:07 p.m. Friday without any restrictions like parole or ordered supervision.
Doctors for the prosecution testified that Etchison suffers from "chronic mentaldisorders, including sexual sadism and an antisocial personality disorder." However, Holm decided those findings were unfounded, "citing the fact that in the past 25 years Etchinson has had a perfect record as an inmate". Deputy District Attorney Greg Devitt referred to Etchison as a "articulate, bright individual who you would have no idea that he has this background".
A gruesome, bloody murder with a cleaver, which was preceded by a the raping of the murder victim; and a series of five other rapes within the course of less than 10 years. And yet, we're suppose to believe that he's not a violent sexual offender? The flaunted testimony that he hadn't recently repeated his crimes seems almost silly- as he's not really been able to, do to the fact that he's been locked up. But, given the history of his actions in previous times of "freedom", I can only assume that it will be a matter of time before someone out there learns first hand that the judge in this case overlooked the signs of violent offenses, threw caution to the wind and allowed the release of predator.
Sources:
NBC11
The Daily Journal
Categories: predators, murders
Michael Etchison, the man responsible for these heinous crimes actually ran out of luck- and served the longest sentence for the last set of crimes- 26 years. In 1996, California's sexual predator law came into effect, coinciding with the release of Etchison from prison. However after spending the majority of his adult life incarcerated, the new law gave officials the opportunity to confine in state mental hospitals sex criminals who complete their sentences but are determined by doctors to have a mental disorder and likely to re-offend- and Etchison was one of the those confined.
Under the law, Etchison was sent to Atascadero State Hospital, a maximum-security facility on the Central Coast, where he remained for 10 years as his trial was delayed multiple times, Devitt said.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a revision to the 1996 law in September that allows for the indefinite commitment of such sexually violent predators.
When Etchison's trial began on Nov. 6, doctors for the prosecution testified that Etchison suffers from chronic mental disorders, including sexual sadism. Doctors for the defense testified that Etchison does not currently display symptoms from any diagnosed mental disorder and would thus not likely re-offend, according to Devitt.
Devitt acknowledged that during his confinement, Etchison has been "a model inmate'' with no reports of sexual assaults, acting out or other misbehavior. He also said psychological models have shown in some cases that the likelihood of re-offending drops as criminals get older.
Superior Court Judge Carl Holm said he does not feel Etchison poses a threat to society and sided with the defense, finding that Etchison did not fit the standard of a "violent sexual predator", and therefore ruled that he be released. Etchison walked out of custody from the county jail in Redwood City at 12:07 p.m. Friday without any restrictions like parole or ordered supervision.
Doctors for the prosecution testified that Etchison suffers from "chronic mentaldisorders, including sexual sadism and an antisocial personality disorder." However, Holm decided those findings were unfounded, "citing the fact that in the past 25 years Etchinson has had a perfect record as an inmate". Deputy District Attorney Greg Devitt referred to Etchison as a "articulate, bright individual who you would have no idea that he has this background".
A gruesome, bloody murder with a cleaver, which was preceded by a the raping of the murder victim; and a series of five other rapes within the course of less than 10 years. And yet, we're suppose to believe that he's not a violent sexual offender? The flaunted testimony that he hadn't recently repeated his crimes seems almost silly- as he's not really been able to, do to the fact that he's been locked up. But, given the history of his actions in previous times of "freedom", I can only assume that it will be a matter of time before someone out there learns first hand that the judge in this case overlooked the signs of violent offenses, threw caution to the wind and allowed the release of predator.
Sources:
NBC11
The Daily Journal
Categories: predators, murders
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