Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/10/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - (707) 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Larry Scoufos

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR COMMITTED TO HOSPITAL

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Thomas Earl Putney was re-committed to Atascadero State Hospital as a sexually violent predator. Mr. Putney waived his right to a hearing and agreed that his commitment to the state hospital would be extended until October 6, 2007.

A sexually violent predator is a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more victims and who has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes the person a danger to the health and safety of others in that it is likely that he or she will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior.

Mr. Putney was convicted of three sexually violent offenses against two victims in 1991. He was sentenced to state prison for twelve years for those offenses. Prior to his release on parole, the District Attorney filed a petition to have Mr. Putney committed to the state mental hospital as a sexually violent predator. He was found to be a sexually violent predator and was first committed to Atascadero State Hospital in 2003. By law, an individual hospitalized as a sexually violent predator has a right to a trial every two years.