They searched for 22 years and released: accused of serial violence released in California due to a pandemic - ForumDaily
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They searched for 22 years and released: accused of serial violence released in California due to a pandemic

A judge in Northern California has ordered the release of a 61-year-old suspect in a series of rapes in a cold case who had been sought for 22 years. All because of fears about the spread of coronavirus in a local prison, writes Fox News.

Photo: Shutterstock

Gregory Paul Vienne, 61, was indicted in November 2019 for two separate rapes in 1997, after police linked DNA from a crime scene to a sample taken from a spoonful of Baskin-Robbins ice cream.

But on April 30, the Union City Police Department said Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Reardon released Vienna from prison due to the risk of spreading COVID-19.

"In this case, Judge Thomas Reardon reduced suspect Gregory Vien's bail from $2,5 million to zero dollars, effectively releasing the suspected serial rapist back into the community," police said in a news release.

The representative of the Alameda district prosecutor’s office, Teresa Drenik, told KTVU on May 1 that prosecutors “vehemently opposed” his release and lowering the amount of the bail.

“It is truly outrageous that we see a man accused of serious, violent sexual assault being released from custody at this time,” she said.

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Instead of being in prison, Vien is now under house arrest with an ankle monitor bracelet.

"This is not normal, this is unacceptable," Alameda County Sheriff's spokesman Sergeant Ray Kelly said.

According to officials, the release of the suspect was based on fears of the spread of COVID-19, and not on California’s ruling on a trial without bail.

Photo: Union City Police Department

California's emergency bail mandate, which has led to a reduction in the number of prisoners in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19, continues to be a problem for law enforcement as alleged offenders return to society.

In the last week of April, one man in Southern California was arrested three times in a 12-hour period—including for harassing police officers—and was given only warnings, each time released due to the state's zero-bail policy.

Attorney Vienne Melissa Adams stated that due to her client’s “unique personal and medical circumstances”, she claimed that his bail should be reviewed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This was done in accordance with the long-standing rule that bail can be revised if circumstances change since the time bail was set,” she said May 1. “In my opinion, COVID-19 is such a change.”

According to prosecutors, on May 6, 1997, a woman going to an express train station in the Bay area of ​​Union City after work was attacked by an unknown man who “dragged her to a secluded place” before committing sexual violence against her. A few months later, on September 7, another woman was sexually abused while walking near Livermore High School.

The police were able to recover DNA from both crime scenes, these data coincided. Samples were uploaded to the national DNA database to no avail. More than 22 years later, investigators from the Livermore Police Department were able to obtain an arrest warrant using the genetic genealogy search tool that brought them to Vienna.

Police later collected “a few items” that were thrown into the trash, including the “Baskin-Robbins Spoon,” which Vien ate ice cream for. On August 28, the laboratory found a match between Vienne's DNA and samples taken from both crime scenes.

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The Union City Police Department said charges against Vien have not been dropped and he will have to face consequences "at some point."

“The Union City Police Department wanted to share this information with our community and let you know that we, the police department and the District Attorney's Office, do not support this decision and believe it puts our communities at greater risk,” police said.

Local residents were also outraged by the court.

“It’s crazy,” Livermore resident Carmen Naval said. “I don’t know why it took them so long to even find him and then release him.” I wouldn't do that."

The United States has 2,3 million prisoners in approximately 5000 prisons across the country, and is considered the largest prison population in the world. According to the Bureau of Justice, about 200 people 000 years of age and older are behind bars.

California officials have responded to the spread of coronavirus by releasing thousands of prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes to make room on premises. By mid-April, more than 16 prisoners were released throughout the country due to the virus.

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