Other LanguagesOLYMPIA—The Attorney General’s Office this week filed a petition asking a Benton County judge to find probable cause to believe that convicted multi-victim pedophile Stephen Robinson may be a sexually violent predator (SVP). If the judge ultimately agrees, Robinson would be civilly committed at the state's Special Commitment Center, preventing his release into the community.
Robinson, 56, was convicted of two sexually violent offenses against young girls in Benton County in 1984 and Denver County, Colo. in 1999. Robinson acknowledged to the SVP evaluator having more than 100 victims in total and indicated to the evaluator he would seek out and attack other young girls if released.
“Mr. Robinson has admitted to having more than 100 victims,” Ferguson said. “My office’s sexually violent predator unit works hard to keep our communities safe for families and children by working to prevent the release of dangerous sex offenders, such as Mr. Robinson.”
Robinson is currently incarcerated at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary for violating his parole/probation for the 1984 offense. He is scheduled for release on July 26, 2013. If the judge finds probable cause to believe Robinson is a sexually violent predator, Robinson will be served in prison and transported to Benton County for a contested probable cause hearing. If probable cause is found in that hearing, Robinson will be transported to the Special Commitment Center pending trial.
The SVP Unit was established in 1990 following enactment of the state’s sexually violent predator law, which permits the involuntary civil commitment of sex offenders who, because of a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder, are likely to commit predatory acts of sexual violence if released to the community.
The unit is responsible for prosecuting sex predator cases for 38 of Washington’s 39 counties (King County being the exception). In Fiscal Year 2013, the unit tried 19 cases, won 16 civil commitments and secured one recommitment. One trial ended in a hung jury and one offender was found by a jury not to meet criteria to be committed as a sexually violent predator.
As of April 2013, approximately 296 sexually violent predators are civilly committed in Washington state.
-30-
The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Contacts:
Janelle Guthrie, Director of Communications, (360) 586-0725
Alison Dempsey-Hall, Dep. Communications Director, (206) 641-1335