JACUMBA HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (CNS) – A sexually violent predator is now living in Jacumba Hot Springs following his release from a state mental hospital following years in prison, authorities said Wednesday.

Merle Wade Wakefield was released from Coalinga State Hospital on Tuesday and is temporarily living at 42920 Desert Rose Ranch Road in the Parole Program, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Sexually violent predators are people convicted of sexually violent crimes and diagnosed with a mental disorder that causes a person to reoffend.

After serving their prison terms, SVPs can be treated in state hospitals, but they can also be asked by the courts to continue outpatient treatment, where they are monitored and must follow strict conditions.

Wakefield, 67, was convicted of lewd acts on a child in 1981 and rape by force, violence or fear in 1990 and was sentenced to state prison each time, according to the San Diego district attorney’s office.

Initially approved by a parole judge in 2020, finding housing for Wakefield has proven difficult, as is common for SVPs, due to numerous regulations on where they can be housed and the common public backlash to their releases. A state audit released earlier this year said it takes an average of 19 months to find a suitable SVP housing location in San Diego County.

In Wakefield’s case, three previous proposed housing recommendations were either rejected by a judge or overturned by state hospital officials as of 2020.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Yvonne Campos said nearly 7,000 properties had been evaluated for his potential home, but with nothing coming, the decision was made to release him on transient status.

Campos ordered last week that he be placed in one of two vacant homes that previously housed other sexually violent predators. If the homes become unavailable in the future, Wakefield would be moved into a recreational vehicle purchased by Liberty Healthcare, which is contracted by the state to operate the parole program for sexually violent predators.

The judge also ordered that he be monitored by GPS, as well as security agents or law enforcement, 24/7, non-stop.

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan issued a statement last week blasting state hospital officials for failing to find permanent housing for SVPs.

“It has been and continues to be up to the Department of State Hospitals and their contractor, Liberty Healthcare, to find suitable housing for all sexually violent predators who have been ordered out on parole, where they can be closely monitored and supervised,” Stephan said. “They have failed to do so despite the court giving them ample opportunity and time to do so. We will continue to oppose transitional releases and insist that the Department of State Hospitals fulfill its duty to find suitable permanent placement.”

Wakefield’s release order came on the same day another sexually violent predator was ordered released.

Alvin Ray Quarles, 62, dubbed “the rapist bolder than most,” was also ordered released as a transient.

His release is not expected until another court hearing set for Dec. 19, during which Liberty Healthcare officials will discuss options for his placement.

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