Dear Editor,
Unfortunately, I believe I can add to the Daily Press story "Homeless man fondles woman after breaking into her home" (September 12, 2024), which documented the latest (so far) in a horrible string of homeless sex attack crimes in Santa Monica.
Specifically, while the September 12 Daily Press story rightly includes this suspect’s considerable criminal history, I believe it worthwhile to add that, according to publicly available law enforcement records, prior to this latest attack he was released from jail five times in 2024 alone, including after two felony arrests.
His latest release occurred a mere two weeks before the sexual assault crime reported by the Daily Press and was the suspect’s third release from jail in August. The releases typically occurred a day or two after his arrest, via a citation or on his "own recognizance."
Sadly, this same catch-and-release pattern too often precedes serious violent crimes in Santa Monica.
For example, a late-August sexual attack at the beach occurred after that violent homeless suspect also had been arrested and released five times this year, most recently in July, with an almost immediate release each time on either a citation or a "short sentence."
Worse yet, the get-out-of-jail history of these two sexual assault suspects is hardly an outlier. For example, earlier this year SMPD arrested four individuals on felony burglary charges. Three of the four were repeat felony offenders.
Soon afterward, SMPD arrested an individual whose shoplifting attempt turned into a felony robbery. He had been released on probation for a different felony charge last year.
And the list goes on and on. In just the past year, SMPD also has arrested fresh-out-of-jail repeat offenders for murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, assault and battery, and other serious crimes committed here.
Perhaps now is the time for voters to demand an explanation from those politicians, judges, and candidates who justify get-out-of-jail policies for repeat offenders.
Explain, please, exactly what so-called "restorative justice" policies "restore" by putting repeat offenders back on the street to commit violent crimes.
Sincerely,
Peter DiChellis
