Residents Protest Release Of Convicted Rapist In Palmdale Area

PALMDALE (CBSLA.com) — Residents in the Palmdale area Tuesday protestedt the release of a convicted felon known as the "Pillowcase Rapist".

Christopher Hubbart, who admitted to raping 40 women in Northern and Southern California between 1971 and 1982, will move into the Antelope Valley following his release this summer, according to a ruling in April by Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Gilbert Brown.

Brown ruled that Hubbart, 62, will be allowed to move into a home in the 20000 block of East Avenue R in the Lake Los Angeles area.

Assorted community residents lead by the Ladies of Lake LA have staged several protests following the ruling, including one in April in which they placed signed petitions inside a pillowcase to persuade Judge Brown to reconsider his order.

The house on East Avenue R. is actually the second home Hubbart was slated to move in to after a previous home located about five minutes away was chosen last November. The owner withdrew the property after a strong community backlash.

Locals, meanwhile, say the only place Hubbart belongs is behind bars.

"I have to stand my ground, you know, put my foot down, and voice my opinion," mother of four and rape survivor Misty Vivirito said. "He has to go right by my house to get into town, to get his medicine, to get groceries, anything. And my kids play outside, so he's going to see my kids outside. And so he's not going to stop."