Predator could be paroled in San Luis Obispo County

Posted: Feb 29, 2012 10:52 PM by Ariel Wesler
Updated: Mar 1, 2012 8:11 AM

San Luis Obispo County is on the list of places, where a sexually violent predator could be headed. No decisions have been made, but the news is already raising red flags in the community.

Tibor Karsai, 59, was convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl in northern California in 1980. He served 30 years in prison and is currently in a mental hospital in Placer County.

It's another case of people saying not in my back yard. This isn't Karsai's first attempt to return to the Central Coast. Three months ago, the judge ruled he could live with his mother in Santa Maria. The community was outraged and rallied to keep Karsai out. The city even went as far as passing an emergency ordinance preventing the move because he would have been too close to local elementary school.

"Just knowing someone that dangerous lives here, we're going to be in fear," said one Santa Maria resident in November 2011.

The city made it clear last year Tibor Karsai was not welcome in their community. Now, the same Placer County judge has listed San Luis Obispo County as another option because Karsai used to live in Morro Bay

"The sheriff does not want the man here and neither does the district attorney," said San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department Spokesman Rob Bryn.

If Karsai comes to the county, he would likely live at a temporary site for a mobile home next to the sheriff's department.

"We do have a space that was previously used as an experiment for the last sexually violent predator that was paroled to this county," Bryn said.

That was two years ago, but officials say the experiment failed and they do not want a repeat.

"We have women and children coming here to visit inmates and all this kind of thing and it was very uncomfortable for them," Bryn said.

There aren't many homes in the immediate area, but one neighbor seemed to understand the situation.

"It's a little unsettling but if he's done his time, then you gotta trust what the correctional trust system is saying that he's ready to be released," said Jordan Sooter of San Luis Obispo.

As for whether Karsai will end up in the county, the sheriff's department says not likely, but possible.

Karsai's next hearing is scheduled for march 19th. There is currently one sexually violent predator in San Luis Obispo County living in Shandon.

According to the sheriff's department, there are 487 registered sex offenders in San Luis Obispo County.