Bakersfield police are asking for the public's help – and issuing a public warning – after a 'sexually violent predator' left the group home in which he was ordered to live. Police are issuing a description of the man and publicizing a number to call if he is spotted.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Bruce Riley, 52, a paroled kidnapper and child molester who has been in trouble ever since he was released from prison.
He is considered a “high risk’ offender. The warrant charges him with a parole violation.
He is described as a large man -- 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds. He’s white and has brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information should call Bakersfield Police at 327-7111 or 9-1-1.
Riley was convicted in 1979 of kidnapping and the sexual abuse of a child under 14. Since his release from prison, police say, he has been convicted of numerous crimes, but none of them sexual.
He was required to wear a GPS tracking device. It was not immediately known if he still has the device.
The sheriff’s department issued a public warning in October when he moved into the group home at 5960 South Vineland Road. That’s about two miles northeast of Lamont.
Here is the full text of Wednesday's BPD warning:
For Immediate Release Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Sex Offender Being Sought
The Bakersfield Police Department is requesting the community’s assistance in
locating a registered sex offender who is out of compliance with sex offender
registration requirements and has also violated conditions of his parole.
The suspect:
Bruce Riley (52), white male, 6’5”, 265 lbs, brown hair and green
eyes, left the group home he was residing at on 3/21/09.
The group home was at 5960 South Vineland Road. Riley is a registered sex offender; classified as a Sexual Violent Predator by the California Department of Justice.
He is on active parole and was being monitored by GPS through the California Department of Corrections.
An arrest warrant for parole violation has been obtained by the Department of
Corrections. The Bakersfield Police Department is currently conducting an
investigation regarding his failure to comply with sex offender registration
requirements. This investigation, when complete, will be forwarded to the Kern
County District Attorney’s Office.
Riley’s sex offender status is the result of a conviction for a 1979 kidnapping and
sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. Since that conviction, Riley has
had numerous other non sexual violent crime convictions.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Bakersfield Police at
661-327-7111.
