Police have warned members of the public to avoid a convicted child rapist after he vowed to ‘rape the first woman he sees’.
John Mark West, 38, was convicted in 1996 for raping a 4-year-old girl in his home, Hempstead County sheriff’s office confirmed on social media earlier this week.
West was arrested again last month on suspicion of disorderly conduct, and was transferred to hospital shortly afterwards for an evaluation.
As the sex offender was scheduled to be released from hospital on Monday (May 6), police took to Facebook to warn members of the public of threats West had made.
The post read:
West apparently suffers from mental illness and is stable while on medication. He is telling the hospital personnel that he will not stay on his medication, when he walks out of the hospital.
He is also telling the hospital staff that he will rape the first woman he sees so he can come back to ADC. West reported that he has previously had command hallucinations that told him to rape a woman.
This notice is provided to the Citizens of Hempstead County out of a concern for the safety for the citizens. Please use caution if this person approaches you, Call 911 immediately and report whereabouts. Please do not approach.
The post went on to label West as a ‘Level 3 sex offender’, while detailing his previous offences – the most serious of which was the rape of a four-year-old girl.
In October 1996, police sheriff James Singleton said documentation indicates West had ‘sexual contact’ with a four-year-old girl living in his home, with medical records showing physical evidence of sexual assault.
It was also noted that West reportedly suffers from mental illness but ‘is stable while on medication’. A later update provided by police stated that Hempstead County Deputies arrested West again, on the same day he was released from hospital.
The sex offender was taken to Hempstead County Detention Center, where he’s being held on the original charge brought against him.
He will be held there until he’s released by a Judge.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 802 9999 (12-2:30 and 7-9:30).
Alternatively you can contact Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111. Male Survivors Partnership is available to support adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape. You can contact the organisation on its website or on its helpline – 0808 800 5005.
A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).