O.C. Jury Releases Five-Time Rapist

An Orange County Superior Court jury today determined that a convicted rapist was not a sexually violent predator and should no longer be held in a state mental hospital.

William Sabatasso, 59, has been in a mental hospital for the past seven years, following his release after serving half of a 26-year prison sentence, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Sabatasso plans to move to Arizona to live with his mother and sister, according to prosecutors.

In certain cases, convicted sex offenders can be institutionalized indefinitely in mental health hospitals if prosecutors can prove they meet the criteria for a sexually violent predator such as a likelihood to re-offend. The patients have the right to petition for their release.

Sabatasso raped a 26-year-old woman after meeting her at a bar on April 6, 1978, according to prosecutors. For that, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail.

On March 2, 1979, Sabatasso raped a 20-year-old woman he also met in a bar and was sentenced to six years in prison, according to prosecutors.

Sabatasso violated his parole when he raped a 22-year-old woman on May 16, 1984, and was sent back behind bars for one year in jail, according to prosecutors.

On Dec. 4, 1986, Sabatasso sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and was sentenced to 16 months in jail for statutory rape, according to prosecutors.

Sabatasso raped a 24-year-old woman -- another victim he met in a bar -- on Jan. 8, 1988, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but was released in 1993 after serving half the term, according to prosecutors.

In 1993, Sabatasso was sent back to prison for 26 years for punching a 21-year-old woman he met while she was selling flowers at a restaurant, according to prosecutors. Sabatasso also stole the victim’s money, prosecutors said, but only had to serve half of his sentence.

--City News Service

PHOTO Image via Shutterstock.