| For Immediate Release
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Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
LAW ENFORCEMENT WARNS PUBLIC OF PENDING RELEASE OF VIOLENT SEX OFFENDER CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND BRUTALLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO 7 AND 8-YEAR-OLD GIRLS
SANTA ANA – Orange County law enforcement are warning the public that a violent, convicted sex offender is scheduled to be released on parole in Orange County after serving 25 years of a 49-year sentence for brutally sexually assaulting two young girls after kidnapping them in broad daylight.
Lawrence Joseph Brown, 52, is scheduled to be released to Orange County from Chino State Prison on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010. Despite repeated, persistent efforts by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) to have Brown evaluated as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) in order to have him civilly committed, the Department of Mental Health (DMH) has failed to take the proper steps to protect the community by submitting a Request to File a Petition, which is required by law in order for the OCDA to legally file an SVP petition.
In order for the OCDA to file an SVP petition to have Brown civilly committed upon completing his criminal sentence, two independent evaluators from DMH must first determine whether the inmate meets the criteria of an SVP. There are three criteria that must be met in order to designate a person as SVP. First, the defendant must have committed at least one sexually violent offense. Second, he/she must be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Finally, it must be found that he/she is likely to re-offend unless he/she is held in custody and treated. DMH has failed to submit the necessary request and accompanying documentation, making it legally impossible for the OCDA to file an SVP petition against him.
“A dangerous, violent sex offender will be a free man to walk the streets of Orange County and prey upon our children. Lawrence Brown – the boogie man of every child and parents’ worst nightmare. Our community can’t afford to be exposed to this type of danger,” stated Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
Crimes against Jane Doe #1
Early in the evening on April 19, 1983, Brown abducted 8-year-old Jane Doe #1 while she was playing hide-and-seek near her home with friends. The inmate was 24 years old, 5 feet 11 inches, and weighed 205 pounds. His victim weighed 57 pounds. Brown pulled her in to his red van as she kicked and screamed to get away. Brown was a stranger to his victim and told her that he would hurt her if she did not shut up. He drove her to an unknown location and parked the van. The inmate forced Jane Doe #1 to orally copulate him before removing her underwear and raping her. Brown ejaculated and left semen on the victim’s clothing. After the rape, the inmate drove the victim to a parking lot and dropped her off, telling her to go home and warning that he would return and hurt her if she told anyone about the sexual assault.
The Santa Ana Police Department began a massive search for the unknown predator and investigated over 100 red vans as possible leads. The investigation was ongoing in October 1983, when Brown committed another violent sexual assault against a second child.