HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSAC 04-14-2010 Agenda Item No. 3 CITY OF Onjo
LADE �LSII` 0R,E
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- � DREAM EXTREME
REPORT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION
TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN
AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION
FROM: MARK DENNIS
INFORMATION /COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
DATE: APRIL 14, 2010
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION: RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
SEXUAL ASSAULT FELONY ENFORCEMENT (S.A.F.E.)
Background
This item was requested by Commissioner Cummings in response to media publicity
about a tragic homicide case outside the City that has drawn national attention to our
community as a result.
Discussion
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department provides contract law enforcement services
to the City. One of the benefits of this contract is access to the full service support
provided by numerous Sheriff's Department special teams, such as the Sexual Assault
Felony Enforcement Team (S.A.F.E.).
A high profile case last month involving the killing of a 17- year -old San Diego County
girl and a prime suspect who resided in Lakeland Village at the time of her
disappearance brought close media scrutiny on past incidents that tie this suspect to
another San Diego County homicide case and possible abduction attempt of a 16 year -
old girl in Lake Elsinore in October of last year (clipping attached).
According to the District Attorney's Web site, "the District Attorney's Office and the
Sheriffs Department, working with other local and state law enforcement agencies,
developed the SAFE team to provide a comprehensive approach in identifying,
monitoring and enforcing registration requirements for sexual offenders who reside in
the county. Sexual predators are required by law to register their residence address with
local law enforcement. Theoretically, this requirement allows law enforcement to
Agenda Item No. 3
Page 1 of 2
City of Lake Elsinore
Public Safety Advisory Commission
April 14, 2010
Page 2
monitor highly dangerous felons at all times. Failure to comply with this law can result in
a felony violation.
The SAFE task force utilizes multi - disciplined law enforcement agencies that are
geographically located in six regions throughout the county to enforce violations by
sexual offenders. The team is staffed with law enforcement personnel from the
Riverside County District Attomey's Office, Riverside County Sheriffs Department,
Riverside County Probation Department, California State Parole, California Department
of Justice, Banning Police Department and Corona Police Department."
The purpose of this presentation is to inform the PSAC and the public about how sex
offenders and sexual assault cases are handled by Riverside County authorities, as well
as Megan's Law. A period for questions and answers will follow the presentation.
Fiscal Impact
N /A.
Recommendation
Receive and file.
NOW
Agenda Item No. 4
Page 2 of 2
Suspect in girl's killing may be linked to October Lake
Elsinore abduction attempt
10:54 PM PST on Wednesday, March 3, 2010
By SARAH BURGE
The Press - Enterprise
Riverside County authorities are investigating whether the sex offender suspected of killing a i7- year -old San Diego
County girl might have tried to kidnap a girl in Lake Elsinore in October.
John Albert Gardner III, a resident of the unincorporated Lakeland Village neighborhood near Lake Elsinore, pleaded not
guilty Wednesday to murdering Chelsea King, a Poway High School senior who disappeared last week after going for a run
in a wilderness park in northeastern San Diego.
After Gardner was arrested Sunday, a family member of the victim in the Lake Elsinore abduction attempt who saw
Gardner's photograph in the news reported Gardner as a possible suspect, sheriffs officials said.
"There are similarities," Capt. Joseph Cleary said. "If there is a connection, we will track it down."
The kidnap attempt was reported Oct. 28. A 16- year -old girl told police she was walking to a friend's house about Tio a.m.
in the 329oo block of Machado Street when she was approached by a man in a gold,19gos, four -door sedan.
The man asked the girl for directions and, after a brief conversation, he showed the girl a gun and demanded that she get
into his car, Riverside County sheriff s officials said at the time. The girl refused and ran away.
Story continues below
Special to The Press - Enterprise
Lake Elsinore police are investigating a connection between an attempted abduction of a Lakeland Village girl in October
2oo9 and the disappearance and slaying of Chelsea King of San Diego County. At left is an artist sketch of the suspect in
the Lakeland Village incident. At right is John Albert Gardner III, the suspect in the Chelsea King case.
Investigators released a sketch of the man, who was described as 30 to 35 years old, unshaven, with a fair complexion,
brown eyes and a blond crew cut.
The Oct. 28 incident was one of several reports of men approaching children and teenagers around Lake Elsinore and
Wildomar last fall.
The suspect description in the Oct. 28 case was different from the other reports. Some involved a man in his 2os with dark
hair and driving a new -model silver or gray compact car, who was reported approaching children on their way to and from
school.
Sgt. Patrick Chavez said investigators working on the cases considered registered sex offenders in the area as possible
suspects, but Gardner was not among them because at the time he was registered as living in San Diego County.
'"-had not come onto our radar until January," Chavez said, which is when he notified authorities of his new address in
,land Village.
It was unclear exactly when Gardner relocated. His neighbors in Lakeland Village said he moved into a home on Gillette
Street with his grandmother and two others sometime in the past six months.
Chavez said when Gardner registered at the lake Elsinore station, officials took a new photograph of him and collected
information such as details about his vehicle and his employment. Gardner said he is a self- employead electrician, Chavez
said.
He declined to say whether the vehicle Gardner was driving matched the descriptions of any of the vehicles described in N
the abduction attempts.
Officials also reviewed Gardner's record for any red flags, such as recent encounters with law enforcement at his prior
address in San Diego County.
They found none.
DNA EVIDENCE
A California Department of Justice spokeswoman, Christine Gasparac, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that
Gardner was arrested after DNA from semen found in Chelsea King's clothing was linked to him.
Investigators found a body Tuesday in a shallow grave near the shoreline of Lake Hodges that they believe is Chelsea's, but
authorities had not confirmed the identification as of Wednesday evening.
During his first court appearance Wednesday, Gardner stood in shackles with his eyes cast downward as an attorney
entered pleas of not guilty.
San Diego County prosecutors charged Gardner with one count of murder, with a special - circumstance allegation that the
crime occurred in the commission of rape or attempted rape. Prosecutors are deciding whether to seek the death penalty.
A second count of assault with intent to commit rape was filed in connection with a December attack on another female.
San Diego police have linked Gardner to a Dec. 27 assault on a 22- year -old jogger who fended off her attacker in the same
park where Chelsea's BMW was found.
Escondido police are investigating whether Gardner might have been involved in the Feb. 13, 2009, disappearance of 14-
year -old Amber Dubois.
Amber disappeared while walking to Escondido High School and has not been seen or heard from since.
As recently as November 2oo9, Gardner was registered as a sex offender at an Escondido address two miles from Amber's
school, the San Diego Union - Tribune reported.
Amber's father, Moe Dubois, attended Gardner's hearing Wednesday, the newspaper reported.
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER
Gardner is required to register with police as a sex offender for life because of a San Diego County conviction for lewd or
lascivious acts with a child under 14. His address and photo appear on the Megan's Law Web site.
San Diego County court records show Gardner was sentenced to six years in prison in 2000 for molesting a 13- year -old
Rancho Bernardo girl. The girl said he invited her to his home to watch a movie, then began to touch and kiss her, pulling
down her pants despite her protests, court records show. Gardner hit the girl repeatedly in the face as he sexually
assaulted her. Eventually, the girl managed to run to a neighbor's home for help.
A psychiatrist who interviewed Gardner at the time said he "would be a continued danger to underage girls in the
community" and recommended the "maximum sentence allowed by law," court records show.
Gardner "never expressed one scintilla of remorse for his attack upon the victim" despite overwhelming evidence,
prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo.
Gardner pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd acts on a child and one count of false imprisonment, court records show. He
was released from prison in September 2006 after serving about five years and was on parole until Sept. 26, 2oo8,
according to the California Department of Corrections.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reach Sarah Burge at 951- 375-3736 or sburge@PE.com
RELATED
Visit California's Megan's Law Web site