Court orders the release of 'repulsive' quadriplegic rapist from prison because it costs too much to take care of him

PUBLISHED: 11:16 EST, 16 November 2012 | UPDATED: 12:54 EST, 16 November 2012

California prison officials are releasing a quadriplegic rapist whose care costs the state $625,000 per year, despite concerns that even paralyzed he remains a threat to those around him.

The San Diego appeals court has ordered the release of Steven Martinez under a medical parole law designed to reduce prison costs.

He applied for the release in 2011, but was initially turned down as a public safety risk.

Repulsive: Even paralyzed from the neck down, his caregivers describe Martinez as an 'angry, repulsive' person and a threat to others

In the rejection, the Board of Parole Hearings agreed that Martinez required round-the-clock nursing care but also had a history of verbally assaulting and threatening his prison caretakers, who characterized him as an 'angry, repulsive person,' to the L.A. Times.

A state appeals court also worried that given his history and behavior, Martinez would seek the help of others to harm people if he was released.

Only six other applicants to the program have been denied.

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In October an appeals court in San Diego rejected that decision as unreasonable and ordered his release.

Martinez will be sent to an undisclosed facility pending a 10-day review before being fully released from the state's custody, said corrections spokesman Luis Patino.

He'll be the 48th inmate paroled under the medical parole program.

Martinez was sentenced to 157 years-to-life in 1998 for a vicious assault in San Diego in which he rammed a woman's car, kidnapped her, and raped her repeatedly.

He was paralyzed a decade ago in prison when another inmate stabbed him in the neck and sliced into his spinal cord.

Incarcerated: Behind the bars of Corcoran State Prison, Martinez's care costs the state $625,000 per year

Martinez's mother, Norma Martinez, has vowed to take care of him at her home in Clairemont - a prospect that's been met with mixed reaction from her neighbors.

'It's a definite issue and I will have to keep a real eye on things that [are] going on around here,' neighbor Gregory Smith told 10News when Martinez first petitioned for release. 'It's a concern.'

Still others said Martinez's condition made him safe enough.

'[It] doesn't really bother me because he's in that state,' neighbor Irene Walden said. 'He can't go out and rape anybody.'

During his 1998 court hearing one victim said she never wanted him to be released.

'I don't ever want him to get out of jail because I don't think I would feel safe. I don't feel safe still,' said the anonymous woman.

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To bad they couldn't have just given him the death penalty. It would solve the entire problem.

- Bear18 , BC USA, 17/11/2012 05:38

Click to rate Rating 22

To bad the other inmate didn't finish the job...

- chili , Los Angeles, 17/11/2012 03:52

Click to rate Rating 52

This man is still going to be a burden on taxpayers either way. 625K a year to care for him?? Does he have a nurse waiting on him hand and foot? And that is probably the rate DOC pays for an indigent derelict.. he is going to cost taxpayers even more once he's released. I don't see how this is benefiting the government at all. Did he sue DOC for the stabbing? If he got any money from the attack, it needs to be used to care for him, not to cushion his mother's pockets while he collects medicaid.

- KatenAz , chandler, 17/11/2012 03:48

Click to rate Rating 17

I hope he's in pain.

- null , 17/11/2012 03:44

Click to rate Rating 27

He's just gonna have to try to feed himself. Good luck with that.

- Raul Pyan , Sugar Land, United States, 17/11/2012 03:03

Click to rate Rating 24

If they release him to save costs at the prison, he will go on assistance from the state so what's the difference?

- Joe , Arizona, 17/11/2012 01:49

Click to rate Rating 51

Just WHO would be paying for his care outside of jail? The same TAX PAYERS who foot the bill for him inside prison, thats who! People like that don't pay their own way.

- GG , Beautiful South Carolina, 17/11/2012 01:21

Click to rate Rating 58

WHAT

- savanna , Florida-US, 17/11/2012 01:10

Click to rate Rating 19

Justice has been served.

- JAM , Mid-West, United States, 17/11/2012 01:10

Click to rate Rating 19

There ought to be several conditions to his release, that include who can care for him, (no females, ever) and his family should receive the absolute minimum in financial aide for his care. Maybe do a tracheotomy too, to cut down on the verbal abuse. Definitely should be WELL DEFINED parameters before it happens.

- toto , Moorpark, 17/11/2012 00:18

Click to rate Rating 44

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