California rapist Michael Cheek may be released near Girl Scout camp in Los Gatos

Convicted rapist Michael Thomas Cheek, 74, could be released to a Los Gatos home near schools and a Girl Scout camp. Santa Cruz Sheriff Chris Clark is fighting the placement in court.

Santa Cruz sheriff fights to block violent predator's release into Los Gatos enclave

A convicted sexually violent predator could be placed in a home in the wealthy enclave of Los Gatos, near schools, a Girl Scout camp, and a public park — over the explicit objections of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff. NY Post Metro reports that Michael Thomas Cheek, 74, is being considered for release from a locked psychiatric facility to a property at 25237 Terrace Grove Road, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Sheriff Chris Clark has warned the court that the terrain itself poses a public safety risk. "The concerns are specific and serious. The home is surrounded by dense forest and steep terrain. Schools, a Girl Scout Camp, a church, a public park, and neighborhoods where families live are also nearby," Clark said, according to KRON 4.

Clark added that unreliable cellphone service and spotty GPS coverage in the area could delay deputies responding to any new offense. "Narrow roads, abandoned structures, and recreational vehicles in the area could further complicate a search or apprehension," he wrote in his submission to the court.

Cheek's criminal record dates back more than four decades. In 1980, he raped a young woman at gunpoint on Seabright Beach. The following year, after escaping custody in Contra Costa County, he raped a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint. He was subsequently classified as a sexually violent predator and spent decades in prison.

In 2019, Cheek completed a sex offender treatment program at a locked psychiatric facility and was cleared to pursue supervised housing. The proposed Los Gatos placement is the third attempt to find him a site in Santa Cruz County. Two earlier proposals — at 310 Wild Iris Lane in Bonny Doon and 204 Forest Drive in Aptos — collapsed following public opposition.

The current proposal must pass a judicial review before Cheek can leave custody. Superior Court Judge Nancy De La Pena is scheduled to hear arguments for and against the placement on October 30 at the Santa Cruz County courthouse.

Source: NY Post Metro