For years, I’ve been sounding the alarm about a deeply dangerous policy: the State’s practice of releasing Sexually Violent Predators — the most violent, high-risk offenders in our system — into residential communities.
Not in Borrego Springs, not in Jacumba, not in Rancho Bernardo, and not anywhere near families who deserve to feel safe.
This week, we were reminded exactly why.
SVP Alvin Quarles — known as the “bolder-than-most” rapist — was ordered back to Coalinga State Hospital after violating the strict conditions of his release. While he did not commit a new crime, he violated his conditions so severely that he’s now back in custody. That alone exposes just how fragile, flawed, and dangerous this placement system is.
Let’s be clear about who we’re dealing with.
Quarles brutally terrorized at least a dozen women — breaking into homes and hotel rooms, assaulting victims at knifepoint, and even forcing loved ones to watch. He was sentenced to 50 years to life. Yet, despite his history and community opposition, the State still pushed to place him in San Diego County.
And when no community would accept him — for obvious reasons — the State devised a workaround: label him a “transient.” No real address. No community notification. No accountability. It’s a loophole designed to avoid public scrutiny, and I’ve been calling it out from the beginning.
Now, after yet another violation, Quarles is being returned to state custody. But the truth is simple: this should never have happened.
San Diego County is not a dumping ground for dangerous offenders. Families should not be forced to live with the uncertainty of SVPs being released through loopholes that hide their location and ignore legitimate safety concerns.
It’s time for the State Legislature to act:
End “transient” releases.
End secret placements.
End this reckless system once and for all.
Our neighborhoods deserve transparency. Families deserve protection. Victims deserve justice.
We warned Sacramento. They ignored us. Now the consequences are clear — and unacceptable. I will keep fighting until this dangerous practice ends for good.
Jim Desmond represents District 5 on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
