The cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz are opposing the proposed placement of a man deemed a sexually violent predator, and are urging residents to contact Santa Cruz County Superior Court to voice their concerns.
Michael Cheek, 74, was convicted in 1981 of rape and forcible sodomy. He was sentenced to prison but escaped and, in Lake County, committed additional sexually violent crimes against a minor that same year. He was convicted again, declared a sexually violent predator and sentenced to additional prison time.
The California Department of State Hospitals has proposed placing Cheek at the Valley Inn at 970 Main St. in Watsonville as his primary residence, according to Watsonville police. He would be placed at 111 Ocean St. in Santa Cruz if the Watsonville site “is no longer viable,” according to a city of Santa Cruz news release.
In a Facebook post, the city of Watsonville said it “strongly opposes” the proposed placement.
“A hotel setting is not appropriate for (sexually violent predator) placement and raises serious public safety concerns,” the post states. “The proposed site is located in a busy commercial corridor near youth- and family-serving spaces, and hotel guests would be unaware they could encounter an SVP on the premises.”
Watsonville officials said they plan to hold a town hall to gather community input.
Under California law, individuals designated as sexually violent predators may be considered for conditional release under supervision.
Proposed placements must be more than a quarter-mile from any K-12 school, including private schools and homeschool programs.
In a news release, Santa Cruz city officials cited several reasons for their concern, including that Cheek should not have any contact with minors.
“Yet, the proposed location is extremely close to at least a dozen youth-serving facilities, including parks, beaches, a preschool and a youth center,” the release states.
In addition, the proposed location is frequently occupied by families and children, creating unavoidable contact with potential victims, the release states. It is also close to other visitor-serving motels.
“The city’s position is that Mr. Cheek’s residence at this location would alter the intensity and character of land use and would require a coastal development permit under the Coastal Act,” the release states.
A placement hearing is scheduled for May 22 at 1:30pm in Department 6 of Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
Community members may submit comments to the court before April 27 via email at cr**********@************rt.org or by mail to Superior Court, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
