SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled against placing a sexually violent predator in the unincorporated region of Sacramento County, just over a half-mile outside of the Galt city limits, during a hearing on Friday, Jan. 31.

Judge Kenneth Brody ruled against Christopher Dryden’s placement at the home on Hauschildt Road, citing concerns over families and children in the area, an estimated 45-minute law enforcement response time and GPS monitoring accuracy. 

He also recognized concerns over more than 200 homes that are scheduled to go on sale near the residence potentially in the next year. 

“We are satisfied with the court’s decision,” Galt Police Chief Brian Kalinowski said after the 50-minute hearing. “It is the wrong placement in the wrong location. We recognize that the state struggles with adhering with state law about placement of these SVPs, but when and where those placements shock the conscience and affect the quality of life of those individuals, whether that is in Galt or immediately adjacent to Galt, that will affect the residents of Galt, we will stand with the residents and push back where we can.” 

The Department of State Hospitals recommended that Dryden be placed in a home at 12655 Hauschildt Road, just a little over a half mile outside of Galt’s city limits. Dryden is classified as a sexually violent predator, a designation for those who have committed a sexually violent offense against one or more victims and who has been diagnosed with a mental disorder that makes them a danger to others, according to the Department of State Hospitals.

Dryden, who attended the meeting through live video, was prosecuted and convicted in 1998 by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office for two counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14 years of age and sentenced to six years in state prison. 

The news of the potential placement quickly spread across Galt social media, causing concern among residents and various city boards and officials, especially considering the residents’ proximity to schools including Liberty Ranch High School, Marengo Ranch Elementary School, Lake Canyon Elementary School and adjacent homes with young children.

The Galt City Council ultimately voted to send a letter in opposition to the placement following a jam-packed Galt City Council meeting in which more than a dozen residents voiced opposition to Dryden’s placement. 

The vote followed opposition letters sent by both Galt school boards, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s office, the Galt Police Department, County Supervisor Pat Hume’s office and the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office. 

According to Judge Brody, more than 200 pages of correspondence was sent in opposition to the placement. 

During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Johnathan Ma raised issue with the terms and conditions placed on Dryden’s placement at the home, which include GPS monitoring and registering with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. 

He also said that numerous families home school their children in the area and took issue with the idea that GPS monitoring was a “cure-all” and did not address the concerns about public safety. 

Sacramento Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Finch testified that GPS monitoring provided a “false sense of security” and could be impacted by various atmospheric issues. 

Supervisor Hume attended the meeting and testified that only two sheriff’s units patrol a zone that stretches from Rancho Murieta west to Sherman Island and that response times were a legitimate concern.  

Hume said he found it “abhorrent” that Dryden could be placed at the home. 

Judge Brody noted that a sexual violent predator was placed at that home previously, but the previous individual was not arrested for being a pedophile, which had to be taken into consideration for his ruling. 

“All parties look at it and said this might be a good spot, but it happened very quickly,” Brody said before ruling against the placement. 

Shortly after the ruling, numerous members of the audience could be heard uttering audible sighs of relief. Others were handed tissues to wipe away tears. 

Galt council member Tim Reed attended the meeting and said he was extremely happy with the judge’s decision. 

“I was blown away by the amount of letters and correspondence that was actually submitted from the city and Galt and the surrounding areas,” Reed said. “I was just extremely happy that we were able to support those families and get him placed somewhere else.” 

Aimme Hunt, who lives on Lego Lane, adjacent to Hauschildt Road, said, “I was worried at first; I couldn’t tell which way (the judge) was going at first but I’m happy with his final decision. I’m thankfully that everyone sent in their letters and that the police chief had our back, the sheriff’s as well. We had a lot of people who had our back.” 

Jeff Keller called the discussion over Dryden’s placement an “extra stress” that the residents didn’t need. 

“Now we feel safe and like the judge said, we don’t feel like we have to lock up our kids,” Keller said.

Judge Brody instructed the housing selection committee to reconvene and begin working on finding another placement for Dryden. 

“It is a difficult proposition to find a suitable placement,” Judge Brody said. “But it can be done.”