Tibor Karsai, the sexually violent predator twice convicted of rape, will be released as a transient into Santa Barbara County this month, despite District Attorney Joyce Dudley’s efforts to stop it.
Karsai will, however, have to adhere to a strict regimen of observation, supervision, and treatment, according to the state Department of Hospitals. The 59-year-old has been in custody at a state mental hospital since 1998.
In response to Karsai’s upcoming release, the Department of Hospitals released a limited list of information about Karsai’s treatment and living situation.
According to an e-mail sent to the Sun, Karsai’s treatment and supervision includes at least weekly individual contact by supervision staff, specialized sex offender treatment, weekly drug screenings, surveillance, polygraph examinations, and GPS tracking.
The cost of these programs will be borne by the state, but Karsai is expected to pay for his own food, clothing, and other personal expenses. He’ll be loaned money that must be repaid until he can financially support himself.
Concerned Santa Maria residents can keep tabs on Karsai by logging onto the Megan’s Law website, meganslaw.ca.gov. Law enforcement will be in close contact with the Department of Hospital’s contractor, Liberty Healthcare, to ensure compliance with the rules passed down by the court. Failure to follow the rules could result in Karsai being returned to custody.
This is the second time a sexually violent predator has been released as a transient into Santa Barbara County. Twice-convicted child molester Kenneth Rasmuson was released in 2007. He eventually moved into a mobile home on rural property northeast of Lompoc. According to a previous Sun article, taxpayers paid approximately $30,000 per month to cover Rasmuson’s living expenses.
Karsai was found guilty of rape in Santa Barbara County in 1974, and of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old girl in Placer County in 1980. He’s set to be released on April 16. District Attorney Dudley previously told the Sun he could be in Santa Barbara County as early as April 23.
This article appears in Apr 11-18, 2013.