Hearing on ‘Pillowcase Rapist’ Christopher Hubbart underway

A Santa Clara County judge was reviewing evidence at a hearing Wednesday into whether serial rapist Christopher Hubbart’s conditional release should be revoked.

Dubbed the “Pillowcase Rapist,” Hubbart was discharged from a mental health hospital in July to his new home in the 20300 block of East Avenue R in Lake Los Angeles.

Hubbart, who admitted to assaulting dozens of women in the 1970s and ‘80s, had been confined since 1996 because of his violent sexual tendencies. He earned the nickname “Pillowcase Rapist” because he sometimes muffled women’s screams with pillowcases.

Hubbart’s release was met with protest and anger from a group of residents who said he never should have been released and feared he would re-offend in their community.

Antelope Valley residents holding signs protesting Hubbart’s release appeared at his hearing in Santa Clara County, TV footage showed.

The hearing in San Jose was scheduled to address two key issues: Hubbart’s supervision and his treatment. The treatment portion of the hearing was sealed because prosecutors planned to discuss his medical and mental healthcare.

During the hearing Wednesday morning, Hubbart’s ankle bracelet was called into question.

The issue was whether he violated the terms of his release because he did not properly charge his GPS monitor. Hubbart told the court he wasn’t aware the monitor wasn’t fully charging.

Another concern was whether Hubbart breached the perimeter of his home without the presence of security.

The hearing is expected to continue Thursday, when Judge Richard Loftus will take the matter under submission.

A decision on whether Hubbart’s conditional release should be revoked could take several days, court officials said.

The hearing was requested by Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey.

“We believe this violent predator continued to pose a serious danger to our community,” she said this month.

In May, a Northern California judge decided to grant Hubbart’s release, even after residents voiced their objections about his placement.

Hubbart is ordered to wear an ankle GPS monitor 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He also must attend group and individual therapy sessions twice a week, and is being supervised full-time by the Liberty Conditional Release Program.

Laurie Levenson, a Loyola Law School professor and former federal prosecutor, said Hubbart’s fate rests on the judge.

Loftus could revoke Hubbart’s release if he finds the ex-convict was trying to bypass security by not fully charging the GPS monitor or decide to give him a firm warning, she said.

In any event, the district attorney’s move to request a revocation hearing sends a stern message to Hubbart.

“I think the message is, ‘We are waiting for you to make a mistake,’” Levenson said.

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