Eureka’s Mayor, City Council, and Chief of Police Oppose Release of Sexually Violent Predator Into Their Town

Photo of Joshua Cooley superimposed over the Humboldt County Courthouse in downtown Eureka.

In a letter released today, Eureka’s Mayor, City Council, and Chief of Police all adamantly oppose the release of Joshua Cooley into their community.

Cooley has had several charges and convictions related to sexual violence. Two other communities, Freshwater and Garberville, successfully mounted campaigns against having the man released into their areas.

The letter sent out today is addressed to the Honorable Judge John Feeney who has been charged with finding an area in Humboldt County to release Cooley from Coalinga State Prison. The plan considered by the Judge previously would have Cooley moving every four days from hotel to hotel in Eureka.

Below is the letter from City of Eureka’s Mayor, Council and Chief of Police opposing Cooley’s release into Eureka:

Honorable Judge Feeney:

The City of Eureka is opposed to the release of Joshua Cooley, a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) into the City of Eureka. The proposed plan of releasing Mr. Cooley as a transient SVP into Eureka motels is not in the best interest of the people of Eureka. Joshua Cooley, SVP threatens the safety and security of Eureka citizens. Joshua Cooley was designated as a Sexually Violent Predator in 2010 and has a pattern of behavior that makes our residents and visitors targets of his deviant actions.

Joshua Cooley‘s criminal past and behavior has convinced experts that he is “most likely to re-offend”. His history of not complying with the terms of conditional release along with his refusal to attend a sexual offender’s course is more than reason enough to prevent SVP Cooley’s release into our City.

The proposed plan to release SVP Cooley as a transient with no stable or consistent place of residence is outrageous! Placing SVP Cooley into a transient environment, in which he is moved every 3 to 4 days from one motel to another is a plan that cannot happen. At this time, no one from Liberty Health Care, the private provider of care for Mr. Cooley, has notified the Chief of Police for the City of Eureka regarding the proposed motel(s) placement or plans to monitor Cooley’s actions. The only information that has been received has been from the District Attorney‘s office who are working diligently to keep the public safe and Joshua Cooley in custody.

From the information that has been provided, SVP Cooley will register as a “transient” sex offender, every 30 days. Cooley will rotate through a series of motels that agree to house SVP Cooley. Those motels also house families, including children. Vulnerable children could be as close as the room next door to a registered Sexually Violent Predator!

Since the City does not have a list of motels for SVP Cooley‘s placement we can assume that some of the proposed motels are establishments that accept state vouchers for short term housing. These types of motels have a propensity for drug related sales and use

Honorable Judge Feeny Page 2

along with alcohol related incidents. The medical expert who supports Mr. Cooley‘s conditional release, reportedly stated that substance abuse issues were significant causal factors in Cooley’s offenses. Placement of SVP Cooley into a motel situation that is rife with drug and alcohol violations seems counter to what Mr. Cooley needs for a successful reintegration into society. Additionally, this transient, roving placement presents significant challenges for Eureka Police to sufficiently monitor and track his activities to ensure both Mr. Cooley’s and the public‘s safety.

The City of Eureka strongly and vehemently objects to the placement of Joshua Cooley, a Sexually Violent Predator, in any Eureka motel establishment and his release as a “transient” sex registrant. Please reconsider the plan to release SVP Cooley into” transient” status and to house him in Eureka motels or any other area motel. Our children and residents of Eureka deserve every protection possible, and the risk of SVP Cooley re­ offending is too great of a risk to take. Please don‘t let history repeat itself, and uphold District Attorney Maggie Fleming‘s efforts to prevent Joshua Cooley’s release into Eureka and Humboldt County. We urge you to protect all citizens and reconsider the ill-conceived plan for SVP Cooley‘s conditional release.

Sincerely,

Members of the community wishing to constructively express their thoughts and concerns regarding this issue are encouraged to do the following:

 

• Attend the next court hearing scheduled for Friday, May 3^rd at the Humboldt County Superior Court, Courtroom 1 (825 5^th Street, Eureka) at 8:30 a.m. (As it has before, the court may choose to move these proceedings into the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors’ chambers located on the first floor of the courthouse if it appears a large crowd may be attending.)

 

• Concerned community members can write letters expressing their thoughts and concerns addressed to the Honorable Judge John Feeney C/O the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office (825 5^th Street, Eureka, CA 95501).  You may also email a statement of your concerns directly to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office ([email protected].ca.us).

Earlier Chapters:

• Hearing on Sexual Predator Placement Near Garberville
• We Deserve Protection From Sexually Violent Predators Such as Joshua Cooley, Says Letter to the Editor
• Placement Site of Man Previously Determined to Be a Sexually Violent Predator Opposed by District Attorney
• Community Should Write Emails, Attend Public Hearing for ‘Violent Sexual Predator,’ Says Letter to the Editor
• Hearing for Sexually Violent Predator Placement in SoHum to Be Held Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.
• Judge Rules No Release to SoHum For Violent Sexual Predator