San Gabriel Valley : Rapist Fails Test, Release Is Canceled

A convicted rapist whose victims included a 9-year-old Pasadena girl has failed a state psychiatric examination and will not be released for parole Monday as scheduled, state prison officials said.

Carnot Lyles, who is serving an 11-year sentence, “suffers from a mental disorder which makes him a danger to others,” said Christine May, spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

The Board of Prison Terms will conduct a hearing within the next 45 days to determine whether to revoke Lyles’ parole until next year, said J. P. Trimblay, assistant secretary for the state Youth and Adult Correctional Agency. The examining psychiatrist is expected to testify at the hearing.

Lyles, 49, was denied parole last year after failing a similar examination, May said.

A second revocation would keep Lyles in prison through 1996, when he would be subject to a violent sex offender initiative scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1. Under that law, Lyles could be placed in mental health custody for at least two years after he is released.

Lyn Miller, one of Lyles’ victims and a leader in getting the initiative on last year’s ballot, said she was pleased to learn that Lyles might be subject to the new law.

“It’s a tremendous relief to me and to my family,” Miller said. “But he is just one; there are so many more of them out there.” . . .