By Bay City News Service
A Santa Rosa man convicted of multiple sexual assaults dating back to 1977 has been deemed a sexually violent predator and was committed to a state mental hospital, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.
Steve Clement Nelson, 62, was found by a jury in Santa Rosa to be a sexually violent predator after a nearly four-week trial, district attorney's officials said. A sexually violent predator according to California law is someone who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more victims and has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes them a danger of repeating sexually violent behavior.
Nelson has been convicted of numerous sexual assaults against different women dating back to 1977, according to the district attorney's office. As a result of the verdict, he will be committed to Coalinga State Hospital for treatment.
"I am pleased with the jury's verdict," District Attorney Jill Ravitch said in a statement. "The verdict means that a serial rapist will remain incarcerated due to his continued threat to the community."
