Escapes from the William F. James Boys Ranch are becoming
all-too-routine for facility neighbors and residents of two small
residential subdivision a short distance away.
Escapes from the William F. James Boys Ranch are becoming all-too-routine for facility neighbors and residents of two small residential subdivision a short distance away.
One man, who declined to give his name, said he called 9-1-1 Tuesday morning to report to teens exchanging their work boots for tennis shoes in an orchard near his home. The teens had already taken off their facility-issued khaki-colored tops.
The man, who has lived in the area since 1975, said it is not unusual to find shirts left behind by escaping teens in the orchard.
“Once they finished changing their boots, they took off through the orchard,” he said.
The man said he was not overly concerned about any possible threat to his safety. He pointed to two fiercely barking dogs.
“The dogs pretty well keep people out,” he smiled.
The facility is located in a wooded, rural area near Anderson Lake County Park off Malaguerra Avenue in northeast Morgan Hill.
There is an older residential area encompassing homes on Saint Mark’s Court and Drive. A relatively new subdivision, Coyote Estates has homes still under construction.
Ellie Mazurek, a St. Mark’s Court resident, said she was not very concerned about safety issues when her family moved in five years ago.
“But now I have a 3-year-old daughter and I’m worried. Those aren’t just kids any more,” said Mazurek. “It’s becoming more and more of a concern. I’m afraid and some of my neighbors are too. But it’s not like we’re in the middle of Beirut.”
Mazurek said she still has a vivid memory of the capture about two years of two escapees in her backyard. “It was a big commotion with them fighting,” she recalled.
Susan Cervantes, a Saint Marks Drive resident, said the entire neighborhood is becoming increasingly concerned.
“It’s not at all comforting,” she said of the three escapes this week. “It seems as though we’re hearing about it daily.”
Cervantes was home early Tuesday afternoon when Sheriff’s Office deputies captured two teens in the backyard of her next-door neighbor’s home. After a deputy notified her that two escapees were in the area, she immediately brought her 5-year-old son and two playmates inside. A short time later, the deputy returned to say the boys were in custody.
Morgan Hill Police and the CHP also took part in the search.
Gage said he understands the neighbors’ worries.
“The neighbors are concerned, and I am, too,” he said. “That is why we are on heightened alert. I am notified, whatever the time of day, if something like this happens. But we need some time to get some things in place, and I think the neighbors understand that.”
The boys may have different reasons for trying to escape, he said.
“These kids are not what I would call everyday, run-of-the mill kids,” he said. “They are there because they have a problem. Their reasons for running are different. Some of them just don’t like being there, some of them want to get back home.
“We can’t lock them up, by law. We’re trying to rehabilitate them to the point where they can go back to a normal life.”
There have been no violent incidents outside the ranch when the teens escape, Gage noted.
“No one has been injured, the boys were all arrested without the use of force,” he said. “When they do get out, they just want to get far away from the ranch fast, they don’t want to hang around the neighborhood causing trouble. They just want to get away.”
Gage said he has asked Sheila Mitchell, chief officer for the County Probation Department, to determine if the increase in runaways might be related to increased gang activities.
“I’m pleased with the additional security measures,” Gage said. “It’s costing us money, but it’s something we have to do.”
An escape attempt in January involving four teens happened during a gang fight on the ranch property, but there were no serious injuries to youths or staff during the actual escape and pursuit.
The escapes this year, he said, are less than in the past.
“There were many more prior to when we actually took over the ranches,” he said.
Neighbor Sandy Preston said in her eight years living there she had never had a problem associated with the ranch.
At 10am Tuesday, county supervisors will discuss enhanced security at the ranch, including the recommended spending of up to $500,000 for a GPS tracking system. The teens would have electronically monitored ankle bracelets.
The meeting will be held at the county Government Center, 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose.
Staff Writer Marilyn Dubil contributed to this story.
