Prosecutors hope to keep molester in jail

An Irvine man convicted of child molesting and scheduled to be released from prison will appear in court in May to fight Orange County prosecutors’ attempts to keep him behind bars under state sexually violent predator laws.

Douglas John A. Mackenzie, 34, pleaded guilty in January 2010 to multiple counts of lewd acts upon a child younger than 14 and using a minor for sex acts for creating pornography and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He had been in custody for nearly 10 years awaiting extradition from Canada, where he was being held in an unrelated case.

While living in Irvine, a friend of Mackenzie’s allowed her son, between 10 and 12 years old, to visit him. Mackenzie had been friends with the woman for a few years and had known her son.

The mother eventually discovered videos of her son being abused and called police in 2000.

Prosecutors aim to prove he has a mental disorder and is likely to reoffend so he cannot be released. He’s due back in court May 20.

—Joseph Serna