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Sexually violent predator released from mental hospital, living in trailer in Otay Mesa

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SAN DIEGO - An ex-con clinically categorized as a sexuallyviolent predator is out of a state mental hospital Friday andliving in a trailer at a remote site near a prison in OtayMesa.

Douglas Badger, 63, was released from the Atascadero StateHospital yesterday and taken to his new home, a trailer adjacent toDonovan State Prison.

By court order, Badger, who has a 20-year history of assaultingmale hitchhikers at gunpoint, will receive 10 hours of dailyin-home supervision for at least 60 days. He also has to wear anelectronic tracking device and a blood-alcohol monitoring braceletat all times, sheriff’s Sgt. James Bovet said.

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Liberty Healthcare, an agency that contracts with the state toplace and monitor sexually violent predators, is to provide caseaides to ensure Badger shows up for his treatment appointments,takes his medications and adjusts to life outside aninstitution.

Last December, San Diego Superior Court Judge David Gill ruledthat Badger had successfully completed eight years of treatment atAtascadero and should be released back into San Diego County understrict conditions.

His new home is 6.6 miles from the nearest school and 3.2 milesfrom the U.S.-Mexico border.

No preschool or daycare facilities are in the immediate area,and no other sex offenders reside in the vicinity, authorities havesaid.

Another sexually violent predator, Matthew Hedge, was releasedto the same trailer last November but violated terms of his releaseand was sent back to Atascadero for more treatment.

The Otay Mesa site was the only viable one presented whenBadger’s release was ordered, Gill ruled.

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