SAN DIEGO—An elderly sex offender who was living under supervision in a rural area of San Diego County was ordered Wednesday to return to a state hospital because he violated terms of his release, including passing his phone number to a teenager and placing an ad for a roommate.
A Superior Court judge ruled that John David Norman, 81, was wasn’t trustworthy enough to remain in outpatient treatment in the desert community of Boulevard near the Mexican border.
Norman, who is classified by the state as a “sexually violent predator,” was released to the community last year despite widespread opposition from Boulevard residents. He was convicted of molesting boys in Illinois in 1976 and in Colorado in 1988, and of distributing child pornography in 1995 and 1998 in California.
His outpatient therapist, Dr. James Reavis, told the court Wednesday that Norman failed to actively participate in his treatment, which was one of the conditions of his freedom. He also passed a note with his name and number on it to a teenage grocery clerk on Feb. 2, kept pictures of young men and advertised for a roommate.
Norman testified that he felt isolated and desperate for someone to talk to other than his treatment or security staff.
Deputy Public Defender Marian Gaston argued that Norman may have made mistakes but he didn’t commit any crimes. She said his treatment providers didn’t like him and he had no contact with anyone who wasn’t paid to be there.
Reavis told the court that he believes Norman is resistant to treatment.
“John is an unrepentant adult male sex offender who in my opinion will go to his grave without any remorse for what he had done,” Reavis said.
———
Information from: The San Diego Union-Tribune,
