Placer judge to consider release of sexually violent predator Tuesday

On Tuesday, a Placer County Superior Court judge will consider the conditional release of Sexually Violent Predator, Gregory Ding. As a state-designated sexually violent predator (SVP), Ding served his entire criminal sentence in 2016 and has remained civilly committed to a state hospital for treatment ever since. Ding was convicted in 2010 for a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14 and for an attempted lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14, as well as indecent exposure. He was sentenced to six years in state prison. He was committed to the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) in 2016. The law requires the Department of State Hospitals to treat and rehabilitate sexually violent offenders for ultimate re-entry into the community. A psychologist from the Department of State Hospitals has reported that Ding has met the statutory requirements for rehabilitation and recommended conditional release. Once DSH recommends release, it is sent to the Superior Court in the county of commitment for a judge's determination for release and any subsequent placement. A judge must balance public safety with the constitutional rights of the SVP in determining whether release is appropriate. The hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in Department 4 of the Placer County Superior Court in Auburn. The assigned prosecutor from the Placer County District Attorney's Office will attend the hearing to oppose Ding's release.