It is customary for bubbleinfo to stand down during tragic events, and yesterday afternoon was one of those, with the Chelsea King case.
While the story will be with our community forever, we should put some immediate attention on it.
We’ve been discussing how we can’t depend on the government to provide as much as before, though many will say that the sex-offender program has been woefully inadequate for years. Hopefully this case will bring more attention to the program’s failings.
What can we do as private citizens? We need to be more aware of our surroundings, and take action to protect and defend ourselves from harm.
It is a mandatory disclosure in the real estate industry to encourage clients to review the Megan’s Law website, where registered sex-offenders are listed by name and address: http://meganslaw.ca.gov/
As we’ve seen in Chelsea King’s case, the perpetrators can move around, but let’s note where they are registered today:
| Town or Area | # of RSO | Town or Area | # of RSO |
| Del Mar | 0 | RB | 16 |
| RSF | 0 | Poway | 25 |
| Carmel Vly | 2 | Carlsbad | 29 |
| Solana Bch | 6 | San Marcos | 38 |
| La Jolla | 6 | Vista | 113 |
| Scripps Rch | 6 | Escondido | 139 |
| Encinitas | 8 | Oceanside | 147 |
| RPQ | 10 |
What can you do? Here’s a link to an article and video that covers the basics of self-defense. Hopefully the community will also create a non-profit foundation or other entity to which we can contribute, to help further the cause.
Chelsea’s case has deep personal concerns for me, being a parent of two teenage daughters. But there is also another personal tie, going back to the 1950s. As some of you know, my grandfather (I’m his namesake) was District Attorney of Alameda County back in the day. He prosecuted a very similar case that was captured in a book, Shallow Grave in Trinity County, that gripped our family then, and shows that this has been a problem for a long time.
EDIT:
This is the perpetrator’s parents’ home in RB, photo taken from the UT:
We’re in escrow with a house that is less than a mile away from where she was found yesterday and it really hits home. As you know, this dirt bag was registered at a different address and was staying with his mother. He shouldn’t have been on the streets in the first place. After hearing the details of his previous conviction, it makes me sick that he only spent 5 years behind bars.
My prayers go out to the King family…
&*%$! Just ANOTHER reason for us to get the heck out of Oceanside.
Vista & Escondido didn’t surprise me because these creeps tend to congregate in cheaper inland areas, but Oceanside? Damn.
It’s a shame she didn’t listen to her parents who forbade her from running there alone. Bringing a friend along — or (my favorite) a big dog — and this would’ve never happened.
My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this beautiful, precious girl.
This entire story just made me sad. I feel for Chelsea’s parents.
Sexual predators DO move around, go to different communities etc. The BEST thing to do is train in self defense, use a big dog ( but that’s not always possible), and unfortunately be hyper aware every single day of your life. You will never feel completely safe again.
I was the only victim (of 5) who lived. I was 17. Every single day of my life I am never really at ease. I will never enter an elevator with only a man in it, and not really safe always. All the counseling in the world helps, but it never ever goes away. It’s a terrible thing not to be able to trust or feel at ease. It’s taken away in a moment.
oceanside would probably still end up at the bottom, but a per capita list would probably provide a clearer picture. Very sad, my wife had me double checking our locks and security alarms last night. It almost has a terrorist type of effect on a community.
Oh my god. He just plead Not Guilty.
Oh my god. He just plead Not Guilty.
My guess is if the DA has a strong case there’s not going to be a plea deal here. He may be able to plea himself down from the death penalty to life without parole, but I have a feeling the DA is in no mood to deal.
It’s taken away in a moment
Definitely — my sympathies!
My wife was grabbed while running alone around Lake Hollywood reservoir some 20 years back; luckily she threw off the guy and scared him away with a screaming flurry of four-letter words. It took quite a while before she got past that… but she did. Instead of counseling, though she went a different route — now she’s got a black belt, a 100lb shepherd, and (at home) a gun she knows how to use.
I’m not from San Diego and have been out of the loop for a couple days news-wise. I just read a couple updated articles after seeing Jim’s post.
As a parent of a 20-year old daughter away at college, I worry even more when I hear stories like this.
Last September, I got a phone call from my daughter that I will never forget. I answered the phone and before I could even say hello, I heard my daughter’s (breathless) voice ask: Will you buy me some mace? Fortunately, she wasn’t touched or hurt and was able to run away, but it profoundly changed both of us.
For the next week, I didn’t sleep well. But my daughter and I had some really amazing long talks over the phone as a result of the incident. She called every night–which she never had done before.
Stories like Chelsea King’s scare me like no other. I would be a puddle on the floor if anything happened to either of my kids.
My deepest and most profound sympathy goes out to Chelsea’s parents, family and friends. I’m just so sad to hear this updated news. *Wiping away a tear* I was just so hoping that somehow, there would be a happy ending…
The solution to this problem is longer jail sentences for the truly violent, not silly sex offender lists that round up 18-year olds who have sex with their 17-year old girlfriends and people who urinate in public along with those who commit more serious crimes.
Of course, that costs a lot of money, which means higher taxes, so it won’t happen.
While this whole sad saga is very personal for me (went to PHS, my sister and her kids live less than a mile from his mother, I used to play in the park, etc.), I think some of gnashing of teeth and vandalism is misplaced. Super strict offender registration laws can be counter-productive. Some states have “no live” zones that are so big that the offenders all have to live in the brush, or just fail to register because they can’t find a place that meets the requirements. Some states have had the laws struck down by courts because they were so unreasonable.
Learning to fight back is great advice. Situational awareness is also good. While it didn’t help in this case, I was glad to see that Chelsea wasn’t jogging with her iPod which is an invitation to get jumped (or hit by a car, or whatever) in many circumstances. If it is just a robbery, consider giving them the stuff and running away. If they try to abduct or physically assault you, fight back, since in so many instances that’s the best chance you got.
As for the upcoming trial/criminal case, let the case work its way through. Do we want a trial? Probably not, it will be pretty ugly. But, if the DA offers him LWOP, won’t some of those calling for a stoning be pissed? And, if he’s not offering anything and will seek the DP, why would he plead guilty just speed up his execution? Let’s hope he has a good lawyer (and not one that is so bad that he can appeal on that ground), the trial goes smoothly and the result is the right one based on the evidence that is presented.
This is a case where stiffer laws wouldn’t help. He was already living where he wasn’t registered. He was already busted on a forceable sexual assault of a 13 year old when he was 21, for which he served 5 of 6 years. The prosecutor declined to ask for 11 years despite recommendations. The prosecutor also declined to prosecute him for an assault on a 14 year old that occurred around the same time. If the max had been asked for and the second case was prosecuted, it could be likely that he would have been behind bars for 20 years or more instead of 5.
The truth is that you do have to be aware of your surroundings. Being a border town, we also are having a problem where criminal elements from Mexico are entering the US and then escaping back to Mexico. If attacked, one needs to quickly make the decision on whether to fight back or to submit and hope you survive. Remember, if submitting, you are likely putting your life in the criminal’s hands. If you decide to fight back, understand that this is probably a fight-to-the-death and commit completely with that in mind. Scratching, biting,.. anything is goes, make it messy. Try to spread as much DNA around as possible. The attacker may hit back, just remember that the fight may be to the death, commit. If there is a good opportunity to get away, try.. though it does help to take some DNA with you.
I have found that many of the womens ‘self defense’ classes are useless. Martial arts classes may be more useful. You don’t have to become a blackbelt.
Some clues:
1) A 100lb woman on stiletto heels can generate the pressure of 1600lbs/sq-inch by standing on one heel. Aim for the top of the foot about 1/2 to 3/4 inch away from the end of the shoelaces towards the ankle. The motion is like ‘stomping your foot’, but drive your heel down. If you got one of the attackers feet, go for the other if you can. If successful, this makes it harder for the attacker to run or walk – giving you an escape speed advantage.
2) If you have long thumbnails and can get at the face; quickly drive the ends of the thumbnails in at the inside edge of the attackers eyes, near the bridge of the nose with your fingers towards the sides of the face. You may be able to grab the side of the face with your hands – this will help guide the thumbs. The motion is driving in and then scooping out. – yes its gross.. remember, if you decide to fight back, you have to commit – anything is allowed.
3) If long fingernails, try to drive them up the nose. Flat palm with fingers together and against the attackers lower face/mouth area, lightly pushing away, then sharply shove upwards sliding your hand up the face, aiming to drive at least one finger up the nose.
4) Drive the palm of you hand upwards to the nose. Remember – commit, act like the nose is 6 inches further away than it really is and really ‘go-for-it’. This has the potential to dislocate or break the nose. Using the back of the forearm or elbow also works if you are too close to use the palm. It tends to make the attackers eyes water – and they will not be able to see as well.
5) If you get grabbed – don’t try to wrestle the arms off. The attacker is probably stronger than you. Instead, go for a single finger, try to get a good grip of that one finger in your hand and then bend it backwards to the attackers wrist – hard. Make it point the opposite direction of all the other fingers. You want to break/dislocate that finger. If that doesn’t get you loose, go for the next finger.
6) Arm bar – if you are on your back legs slightly spread, attacker on top – choose a left or right side (whichever side of the attacker is further away – lets say right side for the example). Push upwards against the attacker chest using both arms while simultaneously curling forwards and bringing the right leg up and under the attackers neck – keep the left leg on the other side of the attacker – but bring it up the his side. The attacker will probably be pushing down so don’t worry that your back doesn’t get off the ground, your hips should as you bring the right leg up. Once you get the right leg past the neck, quickly squeeze both legs together and grab the attackers left arm (on your right side) with both hands – get a good grip. Now simultaneously pull that arm towards your chest hard and straighten your back and legs. Try to orient the attackers arm so that it goes over your pubic bone. It is now possible to dislocate the attackers arm by going into a partial back-arch while holding the attacker’s arm against your chest. – this counter takes practice but can be very disorienting to an attacker. This counter puts them into a submission hold. It is also possible to kick at their head using the heels of your right foot. If you practice, don’t complete the the back-arch. You don’t want to hurt the practice partner.
Sorry if this all seems kinda gross. Just pointing out some of the counters and emphasizing that you need to ‘think outside of the box’ in those situations.. anything goes. Also, don’t do the above mentioned things as a joke on anyone..
Thanks for posting that, ucodegen. Good advice.
This story is every parent’s worst nightmare.
The focus of the Sex offender list needs to move away from penalizing the kid in college who was caught peeing on a wall and focused on the criminals, the truly dangerous, so many resources are wasted tracking the wrong people. The law needs to be blind not stupid.