SHELTON—
A Superior Court judge decided Tuesday morning that a man declared by the court as a "sexually violent predator" will stay where he's at.It was feared by many that Gary Cherry of Shelton would be released without restriction. The judge's decision prevented him from walking free.
Cherry was declared a sexually violent predator by Mason County Superior Court in 1999. He's been convicted of three sex offenses and has reportedly admitted to raping 15 other women.
Cherry has been living at his home on the 400 block of E Street under intense supervision by the Department of Corrections. In 2003, Cherry was conditionally released by Mason County Superior Court to his private residence in Shelton. Since that time he has been under intensive supervision by the Department of Corrections, and has continued with sex offender treatment. According to officials, Cherry has complied with all court ordered conditions.
Since the judge did not approve Cherry's request to be set free, he will not be released without restriction.
The State of Washington defines a sexually violent predator as "any person who has been convicted of or charged with a crime of sexual violence and who suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder which makes the person likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined in a secure facility."
Cherry has the distinction of being one of only about 300 sexually violent predators in the State of Washington.
