Posted on 05/26/2005 4:43:45 PM PDT by joshhiggins
A man who prosecutors called a dangerous sexual predator has been released from state custody after a Polk County jury decided he's no longer a threat.
Loren Huss, 42, had been confined since the May 16, 1986 slaying of his girlfriend, Marilyn Sheets. The jury deliberated about a day before releasing him from jail on Wednesday.
Police said he assaulted and strangled Sheets, gouged out her eyes, bit off her nose and wrote on the walls in her blood.
Huss was convicted of first-degree murder in 1987. He later was awarded a new trial by a federal appellate court. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2001.
Authorities tried to keep Huss locked up indefinitely in treatment program for dangerous sex offenders, and prosecutors argued that Huss is drawn to nonconsensual sex and is more likely than not to commit violence if set free.
"The state obviously is disappointed," said Doug Hammerand, an assistant attorney general. "But that's why we leave these cases to a jury to decide. We have to respect their decision."
Huss' lawyers said Sheets' killing happened because of Huss' psychotic delusions sparked by the manic state of bipolar disorder.
They contended he's shown no symptoms since 1986 and has no mental abnormality that would allow him to be held for treatment under Iowa law.
Huss and his lawyers smiled when the decision that ended his nearly two decades in state custody was read.
Dorothy Wallace shook her head at the verdict. Huss was convicted of robbery for an attack on Wallace, who was left beaten and partially naked on an east Des Moines parking lot in 1980.
"They turned a rapist and a murderer loose today," she said. "God help us all ... Every woman in this town is in danger."
Huss blamed a combination of a bad attitude toward women, immature behavior, drugs and alcohol in the attack. He cited many of the same reasons for his role the following year in a gang rape of a young woman near Saylorville Lake.
Huss testified last week that his attitude had improved by the time he left prison for those crimes in 1984.
Huss told jurors that he had then been delusional for several months leading up to the Sheets' death in 1986. He said he was getting messages from barking dogs and songs on the radio. And he was reading his Bible a lot.
The night of Sheets' death, he said he believed she was possessed by the devil.
"I remember choking her," Huss told jurors. "She went down on the ground, and I still felt the devil was still there ... so I poked her eyes out."
Huss refused to participate in sex offender treatment in prison, saying he didn't believe he had that kind of problem. He also refused to take recommended medication although he said if he was released he'd do whatever doctors say.
Huss, through his lawyers, declined to comment on the verdict.
Knowing what he did, I can't imagine a sane, informed Juror ever agreeing to let him loose.
Why was this killer not given the electric chair? Another victory for the democrats they have another voter.
Did they also give him a complimentary prescription for Viagra?
Well, someone has to say it. He'd make a good candidate for President for the Democrats.
What's the over/under on when this guy attacks again? I predict 129 days.
They should only release him if one of the jury members volunteers to take him in for a year.
I wish there were ways to place this delightful gentleman in a very, very blue state. He could then be near his fellow liberala (the vast majority of sociopath felons are democrats).
No kidding. Personal valet to Nancy Pelosi?
If it's any satisfaction, Polk County (DesMoines Iowa) Is a Blue County.
Hopefully he will decide to stay where he is most appreciated, and welcome.
I have never been able to figure out why being insane makes this type of guy less dangerous. Personally I think anyone who does what this guy did has a plausible excuse of insanity but should still pay the price.
He likes it.
He's only 42 years old. I think the chances of him reoffending are probably close to 100%.
Huss testified last week that his attitude had improved by the time he left prison for those crimes in 1984.
Yeah, NOW he won't bite of their nose or gouge out their eyes or anything disgusting like that.
I wonder how long before he kills again? He WILL kill again, you know.
Maybe all trials could be federal trials, and all killers could go free.
I couldn't find what the original sentence (time) was for. Does anyone know?
The leftists who are glad this murderer is out are the same people who do not want women to own or carry guns. About the best the leftists can think of is suggesting that 90 year old wheelchair-bound women should take karate classes. And they think that "nice" young women should be obedient to any rapist (only "bad" women use weapons to defend themselves). Oh yes, and the looney leftists in some states (I don't know about Iowa) use taxpayer money to give Viagra to convicted sex offenders! These same leftists claim they are feminists.
Good grief. I can't find anything in this story that argues for him not getting the death penalty or at least life +++…
Certainly nothing in the story to indicate this is anything but a horrible decision by the jury.
Come to think of it I seem to recall Our great Democratic Governor and future Presidential contender Tom Vilsack saying something to the effect that we don't need the Death penalty in Iowa, because a Life sentence is sufficient to protect us.
Gov. Tom Vilsack said Monday he’s willing consider a legislative proposal to slap a life prison term on sex offenders who strike a second time, but he also repeated his opposition to reinstating the death penalty in Iowa.
“If the Legislature felt it would be appropriate for two strikes and you’re in, that’s something I can take a look at if we want to protect our children,’’ Vilsack said during a media briefing.
Lawmakers are crafting multiple measures targeting sex offenders in the wake of the abduction and killing of 10-year-old Jetseta Gage of Cedar Rapids. A convicted sex offender has been charged in her death.
Several Republican lawmakers insist the case offers fresh evidence that Iowa’s death penalty —- repealed in 1965 — should be revived. They argue Iowa’s toughest current penalty – a life term without possibility of parole — fails to deter kidnappers and other violent felons from killing their victims to cover up the crime.
But Democratic leaders in the evenly divided Senate have vowed to halt any attempt to debate a capital punishment bill. Republicans who control the House have also said they don’t intend to debate the measure in the session’s final weeks.
Vilsack said he opposes the death penalty but doubts it will be debated.
“I honestly don’t think it’s going to hit my desk,’’ Vilsack said. “I’m opposed to it. So was Pope John Paul II. As we consider his life and his work it’s probably not a good idea to talk about the death penalty today.’’
The governor said lawmakers who want to get tough on offenders must back up their actions with adequate dollars.
Vilsack wants to provide a $1.4 million increase in funding for the state’s Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders, or CCUSO. The unit houses sexually violent predators who are confined for treatment even after their prison term ends.
He argues more funding is needed to expand the unit and house more offenders.
The governor said he is also willing to work with lawmakers on improving the state’s sex offender registry Web site and on tougher criminal penalties.
“We want to make sure thought that whatever we do, we fund. We can’t have a situation where we have grand plans and no resources,’’ Vilsack said.
House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, said Republicans plan to spend $1.3 million on the civil commitment unit over the next 15 months.
The GOP budget proposal would spend an additional $1 million on treatment efforts, $135,000 on upgrading the sex offender registry and $1.3 million on electronic monitoring of released offenders.
“We are putting the money on the table,’’ Rants said.
Meanwhile, Iowa corrections officials told a Senate committee Monday that there are many obstacles preventing sex offenders from getting proper treatment.
The problems range from chronic understaffing to difficulty convincing offenders to get treatment.
Senators heard the testimony as they review a bill that seeks to improve the tracking and treatment of sex offenders.
Rusty Rogerson, warden at the Mount Pleasant prison that houses a sex offender treatment unit, said the 204-bed unit only treats a small share of the state’s total sex offenders. Many of the offenders who don’t receive treatment have sentences that are too short to make it through the waiting list to get into the program.
Gary Sherzan, superintendent of the corrections district that covers central Iowa, said he needs three or four more employees to adequately monitor sex offenders who have completed their sentences and live in the district.
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