Officials say sex offender broke rules

— An 81-year-old sex offender who was released from a state hospital and allowed to live under supervision in East County broke several rules of his release, authorities said yesterday.

John David Norman, who had been living in Boulevard, is accused of passing a note to a 19-year-old bag boy at an El Centro grocery store Friday, then failing to notify the people responsible for monitoring him. Norman's name and phone number were typed on the note.


The alleged violations were outlined in a letter from Liberty's program director, Jayne Shale, to a San Diego Superior Court judge. Norman has not been charged with committing any new crimes.

Yesterday, a hearing was scheduled for Feb. 23 to determine whether he will be sent back to the hospital in Fresno County. The parties in the case are expected to meet in court Monday to discuss how Norman will continue his therapy in county jail.

Norman, who is classified as a sexually violent predator, was arrested Feb. 2. He had been released from the hospital on Nov. 7.

He has a history dating to the 1960s of sexually assaulting and exploiting young males in several states, including California, Illinois and Colorado, authorities said.

Dana Littlefield: (619) 542-4590;


