Judge denies placement order which would move violent sexual predator to Joshua Tree

A Ventura County Superior Court Judge has denied a placement order which would relocate a violent sex offender to the High Desert.

Ross Wollshchlager, 56, of Ventura County, spent nearly 14 years behind bars for raping and molesting a 10-year-old girl as she slept.

Wollschlager was originally set to be released in Sacramento County but a judge found "extraordinary circumstances" that would have allowed for him to be placed outside Ventura County and into a home in a remote area of Joshua Tree, an area he has no ties to.

On Thursday, Judge Nancy L. Ayers denied the relocation order for Wollshlager, according to KABC's Sid Garcia.

https://twitter.com/abc7sid/status/1192510183898877953?s=20

Joshua Tree residents had previous vehemently opposed the proposed move.

"Like it's uninhabited, like there's nothing here except Saguaro Cactuses and Cattle skulls but there are women and children and family here, and we desert the same protection as Ventura," said Kristy Cardamone, a Joshua Tree resident.

Many residents he belongs in Ventura County where his crimes were committed.

San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon previously said that  resources were too limited to actively monitor the sex offender.

"We don't need somebody using those limited resources to keep our deputy sheriff from taking care of all of you," McMahon said.

Captain Trevis Newport of the Morongo Basin station says there are just two deputies covering 2,700 square miles of county land, from Morongo Valley to Cadiz. He said he worries about the amount of time it could take police to reach the known re-offender.

"It could take over an hour with lights and sirens for them to respond," Newport said.

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KESQ 2019

If you're wondering where sex offenders live near you, visit California Megan's Law.