12 Mentally Ill Criminal Defendants To Be Released Into OC Due To Lack Of Facilities, DA Says

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A murder suspect and 11 other mentally ill criminal defendants will be released in the next two months as a result of a lack of available treatment beds, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said.

Spitzer issued a statement Wednesday, writing that twelve criminal defendants who have "been determined to be so mentally ill they could not be restored to competency" after two years of treatment will be released into Orange County in the next two months unless suitable beds can be found.

He pointed to state law, Gov. Gavin Newsom's homelessness policies and the County of Orange as main factors behind the scheduled release.

According to Spitzer, the list of defendants being released includes:

• Manvir Sandher, who beat his 65-year-old neighbor after being told to drive slower in their Fountain Valley cul-de-sac in June 2023.
• Derrick Riehl, who spent years stalking a Newport Beach woman in violation of a restraining order, threatening her life and breaking into her home, Spitzer said. He was arrested in Jan. 2022 after trying to climb over the woman's fence. Police found two flashlights, a bottle of massage oil and a vibrator on him at the time.

Both men are statutorily required to be released back into the community on Friday, Nov. 7, unless the county can find a suitable placement.

According to Spitzer, state law would force the release of ten other Orange County offenders by Jan. 21, 2026, unless the County of Orange can find placements for the individuals.

Among the defendants include Ivan Dimov, who was charged with first-degree murder and the personal use of a hatchet for hacking 53-year-old Kyle Bord Avila to death as he sat in his car near a Costa Mesa apartment complex in 2023. Dimov did not know Avila, Spitzer said.

"I am calling on the Board of Supervisors to immediately convene a special hearing on this issue to ensure there are adequate mental health beds to avoid any statutory release of these mentally ill and violent offenders," Spitzer said. "Time is not on our side, and with every second that ticks by is another second closer to our public safety being jeopardized."

The County of Orange could not be immediately reached for comment.