Kenneth Rasmuson placement

Speech for Sen. George Runner

Hello and thank you for taking the time to attend our event. We are here today to discuss Kenneth Rasmuson a sexually violent predator who has spent most of his adult life behind bars or in state mental hospitals for luring and raping an 11-year-old boy, and kidnapping and raping a toddler.

Now he is free, and citizens are understandably outraged.

There is something very wrong about unleashing this dangerous rapist on society.

He is a good example of why the voters overwhelmingly approved Jessicas Law.

They want bad guys like Rasmuson locked up for a long time.

Let me give you the background to his release:

Rasmuson was released from Atascadero State Mental Hospital last year by the Appellate Court under the condition he comply with Jessicas Law that means wearing a GPS device and living outside of 2,000 feet from schools and other places where children gather.

We can argue that the Appellate Court was wrong for ever releasing this serial rapist, but the court did what it did and now we are left with a released violent sex offender.

What concerns us is the chance he may be released in Los Angeles County because even though he found dozens of

dwellings in Santa Barbara County that met the Jessicas Law requirement the community rejected him.

Thats right; every place he looked he was kicked out by the residents.

This comes as no surprise to me and I am sure it comes as no surprise to you, as this is an age-old issue: nobody wants a dangerous sex offender living next door.

Because of this rejection, Rasmusons mother asked the court to send her son to LA County specifically a community where she could afford to buy him a house.

But sending him to Los Angeles County is not the answer.

Like all released prisoners, Kenneth Rasmuson should be released to his last know residence.

Thats the law and Santa Barbara County is where he belongs.

But we are not certain he will stay there based on information weve received that states a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge has ordered a site review of three LA County homes specifically in the Antelope Valley.

We can argue that LA County is not a dumping ground for dangerous sex offenders.

In fact, we can argue that no community is a dumping ground for another countys released prisoners.

However, the real problem is that a transfer from one county to another should not take place at all!

And the Los Angeles Superior Court judge needs to be reminded of his duty to uphold the law.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dennis Landin will hold a hearing on Feb. 6 to decide whether Rasmuson will be transferred to Los Angeles County.

We want to make sure he has heard the protests and objections of Los Angeles residents loud and clear just like authorities in Santa Barbara heard the loud protests of its residents.

Thank you for your time.

Now Id like to turn the microphone over to Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.