Santa Cruz County Sheriff Opposes Proposed Mountain Placement of Sexually Violent Predator
SANTA CRUZ, CA – Santa Cruz County Sheriff Chris Clark has issued a formal statement strongly opposing the proposed release and placement of designated sexually violent predator Michael Cheek at a residence in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The proposed property, located at 25237 Terrace Grove Road in Los Gatos within Santa Cruz County, sits in a remote area off Soquel San Jose Road. Following an assessment by the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Clark cited serious public safety and operational concerns regarding the site.
According to the Sheriff’s Office assessment, the location is characterized by dense forest, steep terrain, limited road access, and unreliable cellular and GPS coverage—factors that could severely impair electronic monitoring equipment, alert systems, and emergency response times. Narrow access roads, nearby abandoned structures, and parked recreational vehicles were also noted as potential obstacles to search or apprehension efforts in the event of an incident.
Additionally, Sheriff Clark highlighted the property’s proximity to places where children and families frequently gather, including local schools, a Girl Scout camp, a church, a public park, and residential neighborhoods.
Sheriff Clark noted that while Cheek committed crimes within Santa Cruz County, he has never resided in the county and maintains no known family or local support network. Citing the potential safety risks to surrounding residents and the trauma to local survivors, the Sheriff’s Office plans to present its findings to the court to urge against the approval of the site.
The proposed placement remains subject to judicial approval. A court hearing is scheduled for October 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Nancy De La Peña in Department 6. Community members wishing to submit written input may direct comments to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office via email at SVP@scdao.us.
