The placement of violent sexual predator Christopher Hubbart, aka “The Pillowcase Rapist,” into a Los Angeles County community has drawn the anger of residents and District Attorney Nathan Hockman.
“Despite vigorous opposition from our office, elected officials, and community members directly affected by this decision, the Los Angeles County Superior Court approved Hubbart’s placement in the Juniper Hills community of Antelope Valley,” the DA’s Office stated in a news release Monday.
Hubbart was placed upon his release from Coalinga State Hospital into the High Desert neighborhood on Friday, a day sooner than required, with the community remaining mostly in the dark, Hockman said.
Members of the immediate housing community were given 48-hour notice of his release. “However, the Court ordered that the notice be kept confidential within the housing committee,” the DA’s Office stated.
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Demonstrators seen protesting outside Christopher Hubbart’s former supervised release in an Antelope Valley neighborhood. (KTLA) -
Christopher Hubbart being escorted by police during his last supervised release. (KTLA) -
Former Antelope Valley home where Christopher Hubbart lived during supervised release. (KTLA) -
Christopher Hubbart is seen in a photo released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in July 2014. (LASD) -
A protester holds a poster showing Christopher Hubbart on May 23, 2014, in front of the home where the serial rapist was set to be released. (Credit: KTLA) -
Protesters gathered May 23, 2014, in front of the home where serial rapist Christopher Hubbart was set to be released. (Credit: KTLA)
Hochman says the placement of Hubbart, who was convicted in 1973, 1982 and 1990 in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties for a series of rapes and other sex crimes targeting dozens of women, poses “serious difficulties with monitoring Hubbart and unacceptable safety risks for Juniper Hills and the surrounding communities.”
The move marks the third time in three years that a person found suitable for conditional release has been placed in the high desert.
“This marginalized community should not be a dumping ground for every sexually violent predator that is released in Los Angeles County,” the news release stated.
It is also the third try at releasing Hubbart, who was returned to custody for violating his terms of release following attempts in 2014 and again in 2018.