By Dean Maddox, Public Safety & Crime Reporter

Placer County residents woke up this week to alarming news. On July 17th, a Placer County Judge ordered the release of William Stephenson — a man with a decades-long history of violent sexual crimes — as a transient in Placer County.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office responded strongly and directly. In a public statement, the department said it is “extremely troubled” by the ruling and laid out Stephenson’s record in full, the kind of thing that makes you wonder how a decision like this ever gets the green light.

Stephenson’s history raises alarm bells that help explain why California’s criminal-justice system has lost the public’s trust.

• He was first convicted of indecent exposure in Sacramento County in 1985.
• In 1986, he picked up another indecent exposure conviction along with assault and sexual battery in Sacramento County.
• That same year, he wracked up four more counts of indecent exposure in Contra Costa County.
• In 1991, he was convicted in El Dorado County of sexual penetration by force or fear, assault with intent to commit rape, and oral copulation by force or violence.

After serving 26 years in state prison — plus five more years under the state’s sexually violent predator program — Stephenson was released in 2014. Three years later, he was arrested again, this time for possession of child pornography.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Liberty Healthcare, the state-contracted agency responsible for SVP housing placement, admitted in court that they have a “historical lack of success” when it comes to releasing offenders like Stephenson as transients.

Sheriff Wayne Woo said in a statement:

“My duty is to protect and serve the community. William Stephenson is not someone we can trust to be living freely amongst the public. His criminal history is highly concerning and I believe he poses a great threat to our community. I vehemently oppose Stephenson’s release.”

Woo went on to reassure residents that his department will maintain “utmost caution and vigilance” as they monitor Stephenson if the ordered release moves forward.

He also made it clear that the Sheriff’s Office is working closely with the District Attorney to oppose the release and urged the public to stay engaged:

“We encourage our community to take a stand with us — your voices matter. Let us stand united in advocating for the safety and well-being of our community.”

Stephenson’s hearing is open to the public, and judging by community response so far, it’s not going to be a quiet room.

California’s justice system leaves entire counties holding their breath, waiting to see whether the system’s gamble becomes a public-safety disaster.