Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/10/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: James Shine

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

JURY EXTENDS HOSPITAL COMMITMENT OF SEXUAL VIOLENT PREDATOR

On September 9th a Sonoma County jury unanimously agreed to extend the state hospital commitment of former Sebastopol resident Lawrence Rudy Kirk. Mr. Kirk was previously convicted twice for child molestation. He will be returned to Atascadero State Hospital for treatment. He has been confined there as a Sexual Violent Predator since 1996, after serving his sentence in state prison.

In reaching its decision, the jury considered the testimony of four women regarding Kirk’s prior assaults and the opinions of psychologists. The psychologists rendered opinions as to Kirk’s current danger of sexually assaulting women and children if he were released.

As a Sexual Violent Predator, Mr. Kirk is entitled to have a jury trial every two years to determine whether or not he remains a serious danger of re-offending if released from the hospital. In the past, he has refused to participate in the treatment program at Atascadero.