Authorities want to prevent repeat sex offender from release in Stanislaus County

STANISLAUS COUNTY – A sexual predator with a 50-year history of crimes, many against children, could be released in Stanislaus County.

Kevin Scott Gray has a criminal history of sex crimes against children dating back to 1974, when he was 22 years old. Now 72, he has admitted to molesting up to 50 children and exposing himself to girls under the age of 11 more than 1,000 times.

A search is underway in Stanislaus County to find a home where he can live, away from schools and parks, but authorities are trying to prevent his release and say he still poses a threat to the public.

Authorities say he may live near the Turlock city limits. No specific location has been decided yet, but regardless, the Stanislaus County Prosecutor’s Office has filed motions to prevent the release of this repeat offender.

The parents in the neighborhood don’t want him around either.

“Drastic measures must be taken,” Mari Krough said.

Krogh lives in Turlock with her daughter and was shocked to learn of Gray’s potential release into society.

“I think it’s terrifying and we also don’t know his inclinations toward more violence,” she said.

Stanislaus County Sheriff Jeff Dirkse shared similar thoughts.

“I think it’s horrible,” Dirkse said. “It is truly an abomination of justice for this man to be released into our community or potentially released into our community.”

Sheriff Dirkse believes that if Gray is released, it will be a failure of the state.

“Frankly, this man should remain in custody until he dies,” he said.

According to court documents, third-party healthcare facility Liberty Health recommended that Gray be released into society, and just a month later, a Stanislaus County judge granted that release based on Liberty Health’s report.

We reached out to Liberty Health for comment, but they did not respond to us for this story.

However, the Department of State Hospitals has evaluated Gray three times since 2020 and said, “He remains a danger to the health and safety of others… He is likely to engage in behavior in the future predatory, sexually violent criminal. »

The prosecutor’s office filed a motion to end his early release. His court date is set for July 1, 2024 in Modesto. Some elected officials are trying to stop this before it happens again.

“This is not new but we keep trying because we have seen our bills continually rejected by the Senate on Public Safety,” said State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil.

Sen. Alvarado-Gil represents Stanislaus County and said she has tried to introduce legislation like the Safe Act, which would give the state’s doctors the final say on releasing predators.

“Why is there a need for legislation to protect our community from some of the most harmful and sickest people? That’s the question,” she said.

The bipartisan bill is currently collecting signatures. She hopes it could make it to the November 2026 ballot instead of being at the mercy of a commission.

If you are a Stanislaus County resident, you can email [email protected] and express your opinion on Gray’s release into the community. Emails will be forwarded to the Stanislaus County Prosecutor’s Office.