Released Sex Offender Rejected By Local Hotel

PETALUMA - A high-risk sex offender and parolee is not being released in Petaluma after all, a police lieutenant said late Friday afternoon.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation informed Petaluma Police Wednesday that Jonathan Michael Hoppner was going to be located Friday to a hotel in Petaluma, Lt. Ken Savano said.

Police learned around 4:10 p.m. Friday that Hoppner, 23, would not be sent to Petaluma, Savano said.

The hotel where Hoppner was to stay decided this morning not to accept him in the wake of the publicity about his release, CDCR public information officer Krissi Khokhobashvili said late Friday afternoon.

Also on Patch: High-Risk Sex Offender To Be Released Friday In Petaluma

Hoppner must remain in Sonoma County as a transient until a new residence is found, and he will then have five days to register there as a sex offender, Khokhobashvili said.

The CDCR said when a place for Hoppner to stay is found, it will notify that local law enforcement agency, Savano said.

Hoppner was incarcerated on charges of annoying or molesting a child under age 18 and sexual battery, and his past victims included women between 15 and 50 years old, police said.

Petaluma police said they objected to Hoppner's release in Petaluma but they have no say in where he is placed.

Savano said police were alerting the public to Hoppner's pending release in Petaluma so the public could protect themselves and their children from a known high-risk sex offender.

"Petaluma has the right and the duty to inform the public," Khokhobashvili said.

The decision by the Petaluma hotel only delayed his placement, she said.

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