Silver Lake residents who became alarmed last month when a sexual predator moved into their neighborhood need not worry about him returning soon.
A judge Friday revoked the community placement for Herman Ross Paschke, who has been under treatment for six years, and who authorities say has been progressing well.
Paschke has been living at a secure transition facility on McNeil Island in Pierce County after a civil commitment to the Island’s Special Commitment Center for treatment.
In June, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Michael Downes signed an order allowing Paschke to move in with his wife near Silver Lake. She was to be his community sponsor, and would be responsible for constantly watching him when he was away from the home.
The relative freedom lasted less than 48 hours. Paschke became panicky and telephoned the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office for protection after he learned that a television station intended to feature him in news reports.
The police came and at some point he and his wife argued, lawyers said Friday.
Paschke did nothing wrong, but his wife no longer wants to be his community sponsor. Downes decided that because Paschke’s wife no longer wanted to be his sponsor, that was a violation of the June order.
Assistant attorney general Malcom Ross and public defender Jennifer McIntyre agreed on what Downes should do – send him back to the McNeil facility. They also agreed that there should be no visits with his wife for 30 days as a cooling-off period.
McIntyre argued that Paschke has taken advantage of every program offered by the Special Commitment Center. It has been difficult to find less restrictive residence locations for sex offenders in Snohomish County, she said.
Ross told the judge that Paschke might become eligible for a new, less-restrictive facility being built in King County. The facility is scheduled to open in September.
The Snohomish County sheriff’s office sent out notices to thousands of people in the area, and held a public meeting to discuss Paschke’s release. He became worried when television news focused on his release.
He was committed in a civil proceeding from Spokane County, where he was convicted of sexual assaults on women as old as 77 and as young as 12, records say.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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