VENTURA COUNTY SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR TENTATIVELY ORDERED TO LIVE IN JOSHUA TREE—
San Bernardino County officials have been notified that a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) from Ventura County may be ordered to live in Joshua Tree. This person, Ross Leo Wollschlager, has no ties to San Bernardino County and his crimes were committed in Ventura County.
Wollschlager committed multiple rapes and child molestation. In 1983, Wollschlager was charged with four counts of rape and subsequently convicted of two counts of rape through a plea agreement. After serving his sentence, he was paroled in 1987.
While on parole, Wollschlager sexually assaulted a child, a 10-year-old girl asleep in her bed in her family’s home. Wollschlager was returned to state prison and later formally declared a Sexually Violent Predator under the state Welfare & Institutions Code in Ventura County and committed to the Department of State Hospitals for treatment.
On January 31, 2019, the Ventura County Superior Court ordered Liberty Healthcare to assist in the conditional release of Wollschlager into the community.
On March 28, 2019, the Ventura County Superior Court found “extraordinary circumstances” existed to authorize relocating Wollschlager outside of Ventura County. He was first scheduled to be sent to Sacramento County. After unsuccessfully attempting to relocate Wollschlager to Sacramento County, the Ventura County Superior Court ordered Liberty Healthcare to consider additional counties, including San Bernardino County.
On September 19, 2019, the Ventura County Superior Court tentatively ordered Wollschlager to live at a residence in Joshua Tree. San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, Sheriff John McMahon, and other county officials strongly object to this Sexually Violent Predator being ordered to live in Joshua Tree. District Attorney Anderson has ordered deputies of his own SVP Unit to go to Ventura County on November 7 and oppose Wollschlager’s release to our community.
Those interested, are encouraged to attend a community meeting on Monday, October 21 at 5:30pm, at The Sportsman’s Club 6225 Sunburst Ave Joshua Tree, CA 92252
You may email concerns and opinions to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department at [email protected]
or send a letter to:
San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office
303 West 3rd Street, 6th Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415-0502
Attn: Deputy District Attorney Maureen O’Connell
