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Serial rapist’s freedom comes with strict limits

By WTOP Staff

TAMI ABDOLLAH
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — He can’t be alone outside after dark, needs permission to walk through his neighborhood or go to a bowling alley, and must allow random searches and polygraph tests. For the first time in roughly two decades, serial rapist Christopher Hubbart is free, so to speak, but that freedom comes with strict limitations.

Nicknamed the “Pillowcase Rapist” because he used a pillowcase to muffle his victims’ screams, Hubbart moved into his new home outside Palmdale earlier this week despite protests from people in the community about 70 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

The 63-year-old has acknowledged raping or assaulting 40 women between 1971 and 1983.

Guards stand watch around the clock to protect the public from him and him from those who have fought against his release for months. Protesters have camped outside the tiny home on a dusty plot this week as sheriff’s deputies patrolled outside every few hours.

Hubbart is one of a dozen people deemed sexually violent predators who are being monitored by the state-contracted Liberty Healthcare Corp. His public defender, Jeffrey Dunn, declined to comment.

Hubbart’s 16-page conditional release terms, at least initially, are a lot like house arrest.

“He’s not going anywhere on his own, and in fact he’s not even allowed to drive a car or take the bus, and probably won’t be at least for another year,” said Santa Clara County prosecutor Vonda Tracey. “If he’s going to the grocery store, somebody’s going with him. Somebody is driving him to his appointments. When he’s not got some place he needs to be, he’s at home, and he’s not allowed to leave the property.”

Hubbart must wear a GPS anklet and continue treatment, and he needs permission to work, use the Internet, or visit the park, beach or pool.

When his prison term ended in 1996, Hubbart was put in a mental hospital under California’s civil commitment law. To be constitutionally correct, ex-cons must be able to progress and ultimately graduate from treatment — after all, they’ve already served their time. A court will hold annual hearings to decide whether to continue Hubbart’s supervision, return him to the hospital or eventually release him unconditionally.

Supporters of the state’s Sexually Violent Predator program say it allows authorities to keep dangerous people who’d otherwise be freed as parolees locked up longer and under more stringent supervision.

“For somebody who’s on probation or parole, you’ve got one agent for dozens of people,” Tracey said. “For sexually violent predators, you have a whole team of people, and their sole job is to keep Christopher Hubbart out of trouble.”

But there’s palpable fear in the community. Sharon Duvernay, 62, is one of Hubbart’s closest neighbors. She was also raped as a child.

“It’s absolutely horrifying,” Duvernay said. “The restrictions will never be good enough for me. He needs to be in a place where he’s watched 24 hours by more than two guards.”

Duvernay was camped outside Hubbart’s home again Friday with other Ladies of Lake LA, a community group created to fight his release to their desert community.

“We’re so isolated, and that’s why we love it out here it’s really peaceful,” Duvernay said. But she said phone use is spotty, patrols infrequent and “we’re terrified he’ll do this again.”

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Tami Abdollah can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/latams .

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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