POWAY, Calif. — Poway could soon become the new home of a convicted sexually-violent predator now up for release, and residents there are quickly organizing their opposition.
This is the third time that state officials have tried to place Merle Wakefield, whose victims include one girl who was under fourteen.
The state is proposing to place sexually violent predator Wakefield on a property on Sycamore Canyon Road in Poway. It's a property where a family a five, with three small kids and another on the way, currently lives.
67-year-old Wakefield's extensive rap sheet goes back decades, with more than 20 arrests and 10 convictions, including rape, as well as committing lewd acts with a minor under 14.
This potential placement in Poway would be near other homes, as well as riding stables, including one for children with disabilities.
Just a couple miles away from the proposed placement are a popular community park and an elementary school.
"It's really unfortunate," said mom Jaime Stolis, who lives about 1.5 miles from the property.
"It's scary that he can go past Garden Road Elementary. My son rides his bike all the time there," Stolis said. "We walk our dog, my children are there."
"We want to help Poway now," said Rancho Bernardo resident Jeff Grace, who helped lead the charge to keep another sexually violent predator out of his community a few years ago.
He is now helping to organize opposition to this proposed placement, including a community meeting this Friday at 10 a.m. at Garden Road Park.
He's also urging all county residents to email public comments to the Sheriff's department in advance of the court hearing.
"We want droves, we want volume, so that the stack is this high so the judge can see, wow, this community is really concerned," he told CBS 8.
Community concern is also mounting for the young family of five that's currently on the property, who would likely leave if Wakefield were to move in.
"They are shocked, they're devastated, they don't know where to look," Grace said.
"It is super unfortunate that the owner is going to take a profit over the safety of our children and those children that are in that home too," Stolis added.
Residents say they are vowing to keep their community safe.
"I pray if he is going to be allowed to be released back into the public, it can be in a desolate area so that he does not come and harm those who are around us," Stolis told CBS 8.
While the court hearing on this proposed placement is set for August 9, all public comments on this placement must be submitted by July 22.
Those comments can be submitted via email at sdsafe@sdsheriff.org, over the phone at (858) 583-7238 or mailed to the SVP Release/SAFE Task Force at 9425 Chesapeake Drive, San Diego, CA, 92123.
The court hearing is currently scheduled for 9 a.m. on August 9 in Department 1704 with San Diego Superior Court Judge Yvonne Campos.
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