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Brock Turner: Registered sex-offender released from jail, arrives at local hotel

By Leslie Dyste, KTVU
Published  September 2, 2016 5:00pm PDT
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KTVU FOX 2

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SAN JOSE (KTVU) - Former Stanford University student Brock Turner is now listed on the National Sex Offender Registry. 

Turner walked out of a Santa Clara County jail early Friday morning, just about three months after he started serving time for the sexual assault of an unconscious woman he met at a fraternity party.

Turner, who was released at 6:07 a.m., was dressed in street clothes and walked out by himself without an attorney, family, or friends and whisked away in a waiting SUV.

The District Attorney released a statement saying, "If we had our way, Brock Turner would be in state prison serving a six year sentence, not going home. However, our focus today is on a bill that will require a state prison sentence, not probation, for anyone convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious person. With the Governor’s signature, the next Brock Turner will go to prison."

There were some protesters as Turner left jail. One woman yelled "loser" at Turner as he got into the SUV. One woman told KTVU, "I wanted to hurt him. I'm not a violent person but - anger, disgust." A protest to recall Judge Persky is set for 10 a.m. across the street from the main jail. 

Mobile app users can watch Turner leaving jail here. 

The vehicle he was riding on hopped on and off the freeway several times. KTVU photojournalist Tony Hodrick spoke to Turner as he arrived at a local hotel. Turner did not respond to Hodrick's questions. Turner was with his mom and another person. Hodrick asked Turner if he would like to apologize and Turner, who was wearing sunglasses inside the hotel, did not respond. The three got into the elevator. 

Mobile app users can watch video of Turner arriving at the hotel here. 

Judge Aaron Persky ordered Turner, 21, to serve six months, a sentence that sparked national outrage and a petition that collected more than 1 million signatures seeking a recall of the controversial judge. The sentence also ignited an ongoing debate about white privilege and the rights of those who are sexually assaulted.

Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith said Turner would receive, "no special treatment."

He had to be processed and finger printed before his release.

Turner has been receiving hate mail while in jail, but Smith says there are no specific, credible threats against Turner. She added, "there is a lot of hate."

He was found guilty in March of three felony charges, including penetration of an intoxicated person, penetration of an unconscious person and assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated/unconscious person.

Turner was looking at a sentence of up to 14 years and prosecutors had originally asked for a 6-year prison sentence. Judge Persky, however, agreed with the parole officer's recommendation and handed down a six-month jail sentence. That sentence was cut in half because of credits for good behavior earned by Turner. The sentence triggered criticism that a star athlete from a privileged background had received preferential treatment.

Vice President Joe Biden weighed in on the case, writing an open letter to the victim, the text of which was shared this summer with BuzzFeed.

Sheriff Smith expressed disappointment with the sentence. She is supporting the Assembly Bill about reforming sentencing guidelines on unconscious victims. Smith handed a letter out to media Friday morning that she sent to Governor Brown. In the letter she wrote, "I write to urge you to sign AB 2888 and make clear that probation is not a fair sentence for anyone convicted of a sexual assault felony perpetrated against an intoxicated and unconscious victim."

Now that he has been released, Turner must serve three years on probation. He also must register as a sex offender.

Turner must report to the probation department within 48 hours. He plans to serve his probation in his home state of Ohio.

Protestors are expected in front of Brock Turner's parent's house Friday night. According to a report, Turner is expected to return to Ohio Friday night. It's not the house Turner grew up in. His parents recently moved from one Dayton, Ohio suburb to another and now live in Sugarcreek Township.

MORE BROCK TURNER COVERAGE

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