Return Of Alleged SF Stalker Highlights Problems With Criminal Justice System, Victims say

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting the return of Bill Gene Hobbs, a man accused of stalking a San Francisco teen.

Hobbs, the Chronicle reported, allegedly continues to stalk young women after San Francisco Superior Court Judge Russell Roeca dismissed a case against him in relation to the stalking, in what he said was “the interest of justice,” clearing a court order that required Hobbs to stay away from the girl and releasing him from jail.

“This week, numerous young women around San Francisco have shared descriptions on social media of the same distinctive-looking man — tall, white, short-haired, covered in tattoos — following, grabbing and, in one case, forcibly kissing them as they walked alone,” the Chronicle article, “‘He’s back’: Alleged stalker returns to S.F. after judge dismisses case, sparking new complaints from women” by Columnist Heather Knight, reported.

According to that article, “some of the women stalked shared photos which appear to portray Hobbs” who is in his early to mid-30s is 6 feet, 4 inches tall and has the letters E-V-I-L tattooed on his fingers.

Hobbs, the Chronicle said, has a long record of arrests and charges including trespassing, false imprisonment, battery and giving false information to police, across the state.

A Reddit thread entitled “Bill Gene Hobbs” shows the community’s frustration with police and the criminal justice system that has allowed Hobbs and others who need help or should face charges for their crimes to roam the streets without any repercussions for their actions.

“This clown knows exactly what he’s doing and is continuing to do so because he’s getting away with it,” EastBayFunCouple wrote late Monday, Sept. 26. “He’s the kind of guy that will thrive behind bars and knows exactly how to work the system.”

“Sure wish the police would...police sometimes,” MadalienMonk wrote.

“I can’t believe the police are still waiting for probable cause to arrest him! And now he’s terrorizing kids?” FreeMelania2020 wrote.

Knight reported she reached out to Hobbs on his cell phone and Hobbs admitted to her that he had been “following women he finds attractive.”

“I was just meeting people. That’s all. That’s it. That’s illegal?” he told Knight. “If you’re walking down the street and I see you and I think that I know you or I find you attractive and I run up to you and I say, ‘Hello,’ is that a crime?”

The Chronicle said it could not verify Hobbs was involved in each of the complaints on social media.

Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle.