Protesters gather outside Ohio home of Brock Turner
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The former Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault is a free man after walking out of the Santa Clara County jail early Friday morning.
Brock Turner's next stop will be his home state of Ohio. But he will not be getting a warm reception.
After serving half of a six month sentence, Turner left the Santa Clara County jail just after 6 a.m. The implications of his crime, sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, and his sentencing are far from over.
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"It's a decision I'm not happy with. I think it should have been a state prison sentence," said Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith.
Turner is expected to go home to Greene County, Ohio. The sheriff there said postcards will be mailed to nearby homeowners to alert them that a sex offender lives in the area.
PHOTOS: Inside look at jail cell where Brock Turner served 3-month sentence
Protesters are gathered on the sidewalk and holding signs in front of the Turner home.
For the past three months, Turner shared a cell with five other inmates in protective custody.
"There's a lot of reasons to be in protective custody, basically they're at risk while they're here," Smith said.
The sheriff's office said Turner received hundreds of pieces of hate mail.
FULL VIDEO: Santa Clara Co. sheriff discusses Brock Turner's time in jail, release
Hours after Turner was released, a rally was held outside the jail calling for the judge who sentenced him to be recalled. Lawmakers and elected officials stood beside survivors of sexual assault.
"Sexual assault is never the victim's fault. No one is ever asking to be sexually assaulted," said rape survivor Kamilah Willingham.
"My district in Santa Clara County is unsafe because of Judge Persky sitting on the bench right now," said Calif. Senator Jim Beall.
Persky is currently only hearing civil cases. Turner will be on probation for three years.
Click here for full coverage on the Brock Turner case.
