DATE:March 9, 2018

CASE: Lavell Stallworth (Case # 95F07940)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Stefanie Mahaffey, Mental Health Litigation Unit

A jury found true a petition of civil commitment against Lavell Stallworth as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 6600 et seq.

In 1996, Stallworth was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and attempted forcible lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.  In that case, Stallworth sexually assaulted two runaway sisters ages 12 and 13.  He had sex with the 13 year old, and tried to force the 12 year old to orally copulate him.  When she refused, he hit her in the face, causing visible injuries, and locked her in a closet.  She was able to escape and run to a friend’s house, where she disclosed what happened.

Two psychologists gave an opinion that Stallworth had a mental health diagnosis, which qualified him as an SVP under the statute.  These same psychologists found he was likely to commit sexually violent predatory offenses if released from the hospital.

Deputy District Attorney Stefanie Mahaffey states, “The jury’s finding will keep a Sexually Violent Predator off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods.  Our Mental Health Litigation Unit will continue to protect our community from dangerous sex offenders, who pose a serious risk of reoffending if released back into our community.”

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