Sex Offender Accused In Arlington Rape Was Ruled Sexually Dangerous But Jury Freed Him
ARLINGTON (CBS) – A repeat sex offender accused of raping and beating an Arlington woman Sunday in her home had been deemed too dangerous to be released by prosecutors and a state board but last year a jury agreed to free him.
Essie Billingslea, 45, was convicted of rape three different times. After serving his last sentence, a judge committed him for life as a sexually dangerous person.
In 2004, he was declared a sexually dangerous person and in 2006 a judge committed him for life to a treatment center in Bridgewater as a sexually dangerous person.
When his case was up for review in December 2012, public safety officials decided "Billingslea's sexual dangerousness is related to his lack of regard for others and his lack of power to control his sexual impulses."
At that time the state panel "concluded unanimously that Mr. Billingslea would be likely to reoffend sexually if released."
But Billingslea petitioned to have the decision reconsidered and three months later he was able to convince a jury that he should go free.
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