Planners call town meeting to protest sex offender placement here

Ramona Community Planning Group will hold what group Chair Chris Anderson calls a Ramona Community Crisis Management Meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 to discuss California Department of Mental Health (DMH) plans to house convicted child molester Matthew Hedge in a 3,750-square-foot house at 3337 Highway 67 in Ramona. “We encourage citizens to voice their opinions and submit their concerns regarding the potential placement,” she said.

The town meeting will be in Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane.

The proposed location for Hedge is less than a mile from Hanson Elementary School, two preschools, a Sunday school, at least two school bus stops and a proposed church site.

A court hearing to consider the proposed placement will be in San Diego Superior Court, Department 55, at 1:30 p.m. on March 13. Written public comments are being accepted this month and may be given to the planning group or mailed to San Diego Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force at 9425 Chesapeake Drive, San Diego, CA 92123, by Feb. 27. All comments will be submitted to the court before the hearing next month.

Hedge was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 1989 after pleading guilty to molesting four children. When he was released from the DMH hospital, he violated conditions of his release and was returned to the hospital.