Child molester to be released from mental hospital

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A child molester with 17 known victims is expected to be released from a state mental hospital in the next three days, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Alan Rigby, 66, has been in Coalinga State Hospital for 16 years, where he was committed after serving half of his 19-year-prison sentence. Upon release, he plans to live with his sister in Pennsylvania, Michigan or New York.

The exact date and time of his release is unknown.

An Orange County judge found Thursday that it was unlikely Rigby would engage in sexually violent predatory criminal behavior upon release.

The district attorney's office, however, sought to keep Rigby civilly committed and believes he still poses a danger based on his past behavior.

Between 1985 and 1987, Rigby worked as a physical education teacher and molested about 15 boys and two girls, ages 10 to 14 years old. He was convicted of 18 counts of lewd acts on a child and three counts of lewd acts on a child with force.

A Department of State Hospitals evaluator said Rigby was not likely to reoffend, based on his age and statements from doctors.