Assemblymember Carl DeMaio is demanding California suspend its program for releasing sexually violent predators after Merle Wakefield cut off his GPS ankle monitor and fled Rancho Bernardo.
DeMaio, who represents Assembly District 75 covering the area, issued a press release Monday, Sept. 28 calling for an immediate halt to new SVP releases in San Diego County, a full investigation into how Wakefield defeated his monitoring, and accountability for Liberty Healthcare and state officials who oversee the Conditional Release Program.
Wakefield, 69, removed his GPS device at about 3:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, while working at an Amazon processing center in Rancho Bernardo, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. As we reported Saturday, it was the first time an SVP in the county had absconded from the program.
Wakefield remained at large as of Sunday, Sept. 27.
"We haven't ever experienced this in San Diego before," Sheriff Kelly Martinez told NBC 7. "So there are some lessons learned, certainly."
In his statement, DeMaio called the escape a systemic failure, not an isolated incident. He said the state told residents GPS monitoring and around-the-clock supervision would keep them safe, and that promise collapsed when Wakefield removed his device and disappeared.
DeMaio also pointed to AB 22, the End Reckless Release of Criminals Act, which he introduced in 2025 to restrict SVP placements in residential communities. His press release did not specify a scheduled hearing or vote on the bill.
The assemblymember has pushed this issue before. In November 2025, he issued a similar demand to suspend SVP placements after a different predator, Alvin Quarles, violated the terms of his release within days of being placed under Liberty Healthcare supervision.
Wakefield was convicted in 1981 of committing lewd acts with a minor under 14 and in 1990 of rape by force, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. He was designated a sexually violent predator after his 1998 prison release and committed to the California Department of State Hospitals. He had been on conditional release since November 2024, supervised by Liberty Healthcare.
Poway residents fought Wakefield's placement in 2024. An earlier proposal would have housed him near a school and park, prompting a community rally. As we reported Saturday, Mayor Steve Vaus opposed that location. Wakefield was most recently living in Campo, according to Sheriff's Lt. Aloha Peters.
A California State Auditor review found the state has spent $93 million to house and monitor 56 SVP program participants living in the community, averaging $1.66 million per person. About 36% of participants had violated the terms of their release.
Liberty Healthcare declined to comment to NBC 7, referring questions to the state. The California Department of State Hospitals said federal and state privacy laws prohibit it from releasing patient information but pledged full cooperation with any investigation.
Martinez noted that absconding from the program is a civil violation, meaning there is no criminal charge beyond vandalism for tampering with the GPS device. Wakefield is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 230 pounds, with brown eyes. Anyone who sees him should not approach him and should call 911 immediately.
