After Major Pushback from Red Bluff Residents, Humboldt County Judge Denies Placement in Tehama County for Convicted Sexually Violent Predator

Link

Embed

Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed.

EUREKA (KIEM) – Over the last several months, it’s been an ongoing battle for the placement of convicted sexually violent predator, Joshua Cooley.

“Judge Feeney just a short time ago ruled against him being placed in Tehama County,” said Tehama County District Attorney Matthew Rogers.

Back in May, Judge Feeney denied transient status to Cooley and asked that Liberty Healthcare find potential placement out in Tehama.

“We know that the transient status is a terrible idea,” said Humboldt County District One Supervisor Rex Bohn. “Moving him around every four days is a terrible idea and that was proven by the last hearing.”

When Red Bluff residents caught wind of the proposed placement, they pushed back.

“We only knew about this for five days,” said Tehama County resident Laurel Sparrow. “We managed to get a couple of thousand signatures on petitions and get hundreds and hundreds of letters written to the judge and the District Attorney.”

Residents drove four hours just to plead their case.

“I am so very proud of our residents for stepping up” Rogers. “It’s as if collectively everyone stood up and said no to this.”

Judge Feeney ruled that Cooley will not be placed in Tehama County, but is also not reconsidering giving the convicted predator transient status.

“Do we want him placed in Humboldt? The answer is no,” said Bohn. “We don’t want him placed anywhere in our Humboldt county areas.>”

Now that means possible placement for Cooley here in Humboldt is back on.

“We will just rally our troops,” said Bohn.

During the hearing, Cooley’s appointed attorney Megan O’Connell said, that no matter where Cooley is placed there will always be opposition.

“We don’t want, we cannot afford, we totally have to reject Joshua Cooley’s placement within Humboldt period,” said Eureka Resident Cornelius Loewenstein.

The Court has asked Liberty Healthcare to find possible placement for Cooley out in Sacramento County.

Another review hearing is set for August 23.