Sex Offender Notification
November 27, 2024 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report on Tuesday, November 26, Merle Wakefield, a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP), was conditionally released from Coalinga State Hospital. Wakefield is registered as a “Sexually Violent Predator” (SVP) sex offender with the California Department of Justice and the County of San Diego. He has served several years in state prison for his crimes before his civil commitment to a state mental hospital for sex offenders.
Pursuant to a court order, Wakefield has been released into the community as a transient. He is temporarily housed at 42920 Desert Rose Ranch Road, Jacumba Hot Springs, under the Conditional Release Program. Wakefield has a lifetime requirement to register as a sex offender. Wakefield has 24-hour supervision by Liberty Health Care, a private company contracted by the State of California. Wakefield does have several conditions which are enforceable by Liberty Health Care personnel. Liberty Health Care has a security employee who accompanies him on a 24/7 basis.
Wakefield is not wanted by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office at this time. California Penal Code Section 290, also known as “Megan’s Law,” permits law enforcement agencies to warn the community about sex offenders who frequent the area. The purpose of this notice is to allow members of the public to protect themselves and their children from sex offenders.
This notification is not intended to induce fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed community is a safer community. Use of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass the subject or any other person will not be tolerated and may result in prosecution.
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AND THE SAFE TASK FORCE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION OF THIS LOCATION. THE SELECTION PROCESS WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HOSPITALS. THE SELECTION BY STATE MENTAL HOSPITALS REQUIRES APPROVAL BY THE SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT.
For more information about the legal designation, treatment and release from confined facilities of sexually violent predators, visit the San Diego County District Attorney's website. You can also visit the Department of State Hospital's website.
To learn more about the SAFE Task Force, click here.
Source & photo: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
Related: San Diego County Sheriff Issues Notification of Violent Sex Offender Release in Rural East County