Man Charged As Serial Rapist Released From Jail

EAST BAY — Until last week, Gregory Vien was at Santa Rita Jail charged with multiple counts of kidnapping and rape. The 1990s Cold Cases, which happened in Union City and Livermore, were solved last year.

Last Friday, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Reardon ordered Vien released without bail to prevent him from possibly being exposed to coronavirus. Vien's lawyer, Melissa Adams, made a motion for his release.

The Union City Police Department reports it was "shocked" to learn of the release, and sent a message to the community reading, "The Union City Police Department wanted to share this information with our community and let you know that we, like Livermore PD and the District Attorney's Office, do not support this decision and feel it places our communities at greater risk."

When he was charged last November, DA Nancy O’Malley said,“For over 20 years, the survivors of these sexual assaults have lived with the constant uncertainty that comes with not knowing when, if ever, their assailant will be identified and brought to justice. The police agencies never gave up, nor let these investigations go cold. Their dedication, tenacity and excellent investigative work, has now paid off in the arrest of Mr. Vien. My office’s specialized cold case unit and sexual assault unit worked alongside our law enforcement partners and will now ensure that Mr. Vien is held to account for the crimes he committed.”

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The charges against Vien have not been dropped and he will still have to face trial at some point. However, all trials have been placed on hold for months because of stay-at-home orders and other coronavirus restrictions.

Vien was released to Livermore and is wearing an ankle bracelet to track his movements.

Hundreds of other prisoners have also been released from Santa Rita to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Through Wednesday, 35 cases of coronavirus had been linked to the jail, including inmates and staff. That's fewer cases than reported in each of the East Bay cities and communities of Alameda, Antioch, Bay Point, Berkeley, Brentwood, Castro Valley, Concord, Eden area (including Ashland, Cherryland, Hayward Acres, San Lorenzo), Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Pleasanton, Richmond, San Leandro, San Pablo, Union City, and Walnut Creek.