Sexual predator sent back to state hospital after approaching teen

Laura Anthony Image
ByLaura Anthony KGO logo
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Sexual predator sent back to state hospital after approaching teen
A court hearing Monday exposed details of why sexual predator Charles Christman, who was placed in Walnut Creek, was sent back to the state hospital.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KGO) -- Details are emerging on why a sexually violent predator placed in a Walnut Creek neighborhood was sent back to the state hospital.

A court hearing Monday exposed the details of Charles Christman's alleged violation, including an accusation he pursued a teenaged boy at an East Bay community center and then lied about it.

Contra Costa County deputy district attorney Andrea Tavenier says Christman has now shown he has no business living in a Walnut Creek neighborhood after the sexually violent predator allegedly violated the conditions of his release on a visit to a Concord community center.

"There's no allegation that he touched anybody or that he actually committed a sex crime, but he had certain urges," Tavenier said. "He made contact with a young man based on those urges and he failed to disclose that to treatment personnel."

Christman moved into a house on Walnut Boulevard in February after neighbors and the district attorney objected. Liberty Healthcare testified in May that Christman wore a GPS ankle bracelet and that Liberty was monitoring his every move.

On June 5, according to Liberty's own testimony Monday, Christman violated the conditions of his release during a supervised visit to a senior group meeting at the Concord Center when he made contact with an 18-year-old man and then didn't tell his caseworker.

In court, the deputy district attorney asked caseworker James Pendergast if Christman mentioned having sexualized thoughts about the young man. Pendergast said no.

Kelly Dossa lives near where Christman was placed in Walnut Creek.

"In this case, he proved our concerns correct," Dossa said. "We did not think he was going to be an upstanding citizen and unfortunately it sounds like he did exactly what we said, or feared he would do."

Christman's revocation hearing will continue later this month. In the meantime, he will remain at the state hospital in Coalinga.