Sacramento, CA (January 21, 2026) — Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick today issued a strong rebuke of the California Department of State Hospitals’ plan to release and place William Stephenson—an individual with a documented history of violent sexual offenses and severe mental health needs—into the rural community of Alta.
“This decision represents a profound failure to consider public safety, community capacity, and responsible reintegration,” said Assemblywoman Hadwick. “Placing a high-risk offender into a town of 700 people with limited law enforcement, no specialized mental health services, and no realistic employment opportunities is not just inappropriate—it is reckless.”
Alta is a small, rural, and isolated community with minimal emergency response capacity from Sacramento and no intensive outpatient or residential treatment programs. Hadwick emphasized that the State’s plan ignores these realities while shifting unacceptable risk onto residents.
“The State is asking Alta to shoulder all of the danger while providing none of the support,” Hadwick said. “That is not rehabilitation. That is negligence.”
“We are adamantly opposed to Mr. Stephenson’s release to this high-risk location,” said Placer County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. “This community is in mountainous terrain, is heavily wooded, routinely loses power during wind events and winter storms, and has limited cellular service. There are neighbors on all sides of the property with children and grandchildren. We are very skeptical that the Department of State Hospitals understands and has considered the limitations of the site for emergency response, as well as the risk to children and adults using the outdoor recreational trails and facilities directly adjacent to the property.”
The proposed placement is also located near parks, families with homeschooled children and directly across from the town’s only grocery store, which sits adjacent to the local school—creating unavoidable daily contact in a community with no buffer or anonymity.
Further, the predator is supposed to be monitored daily with GPS, but there are thick forests and no signal where he would be placed, making meaningful tracking and supervision impossible.
“After listening to hours of feedback from hundreds of Alta-area residents, it became clear that this proposed address raises serious concerns about the release of Mr. Stephenson in the Alta-Dutch Flat community,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “The rural terrain, the ineffectiveness and inconsistency of GPS monitoring, the extensive recreational activities in remote wooded areas, and the number of women and children who live, learn, and recreate in this close-knit community leave more questions than answers as to how the Department of State Hospitals could effectively supervise Mr. Stephenson. We will ensure these address-specific concerns are formally shared with the Court for consideration before any decision is made to release Mr. Stephenson.”
Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo asserted,“as Sheriff, my responsibility is, and will always be, to protect the people of Placer County.” Sheriff Woo added, “I have serious concerns about the oversight and supervision that would be provided by the Department of State Hospitals if this release occurs. At this time, there are still unanswered questions about how compliance will be monitored and how risks will be addressed. Those concerns weigh heavily when public safety is at stake.
“Rural communities are not dumping grounds for placements larger jurisdictions don’t want to manage,” Hadwick added. “Public safety must apply equally, regardless of zip code.”
Hadwick confirmed that her office is actively engaged and that constituents are mobilizing in opposition. She attended a public town hall on Tuesday where residents voiced their concerns.
Assemblywoman Hadwick is formally demanding that the Department of State Hospitals immediately halt the placement and identify a location with appropriate clinical services, supervision capacity, employment opportunities, and law enforcement resources. You can read her letter to the Placer Superior Court HERE.
Stephenson’s court hearing to review the suitability of the placement in Alta is scheduled for February 13. If you are interested in engaging in this issue, you can submit a public comment to the District Attorney’s portal no later than January 28. The portal can be found here: SVP Transient Release Case Portal | Placer County, CA.
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