Prosecutors seek to prevent release of ‘Bolder Than Most’ rapist

San Diego County prosecutors are attempting to keep one of the region’s most infamous rapists in custody even though he has served 25 years in prison and is set for parole.

At a Superior Court hearing Friday morning, the judge set a Dec. 19 hearing on whether Alvin Ray Quarles should be released or determined to be a “sexually violent predator” and sent to a state hospital for sex offenders until he is judged to no longer be a threat to the public.

“Protecting our community from sexually violent predators is a priority for the DA’s office and we’re working diligently to have this defendant committed to a state hospital for an indeterminate term,” said district attorney spokesman Steve Walker.

Dubbed by police the “Bolder Than Most Rapist,” Quarles, now 51, attacked his victims at knife point, sometimes forcing the women’s husbands or boyfriends to watch, and in some of his attacks, forcing the men to have sex with the women while he watched.

Quarles pleaded guilty in 1989 to a series of sexual assaults that had terrorized women throughout National City and the San Diego neighborhoods of Clairemont, Mission Valley and East San Diego.

Under a plea bargain with prosecutors, Quarles, then 26, pleaded guilty to four counts of rape, six of burglary and two of robbery and was sentenced to prison for 50 years.

If he had chosen to go to trial on all 61 counts, he could have been sentenced to more than 200 years.

Under the law in effect when he was sentenced, Quarles was eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence based on credit for “good time.” In 1994, the law was changed to require a violent prisoner to serve at least 85% of his sentence.

In August, the prison system said that Quarles would be released before the end of the year. His release date was later set for Nov. 16.

Quarles has been behind bars at the prison in San Luis Obispo.

The district attorney’s office is attempting to keep him in custody under what is called a “civil commitment.” At the December court hearing, psychologists will testify that Quarles remains a threat to the public, prosecutors said.

Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred is set Friday to hold a news conference with two of Quarles’ victims to protest his possible release from prison.

The victims “deserve the peace of mind that this convicted rapist won’t be able to harm anyone in the future,” Walker said.

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Twitter: @LATsandiego

tony.perry@latimes.com