SALINAS, Calif.- Once again James Lamb is back in a jail jumpsuit and handcuffs after relative freedom on River Rd. Now this latest arrest has some taxpayers wondering if that rehab was all just a waste of money and time.
"The DA's office had originally objected to him being placed on outpatient release in the first place and the judge heard the evidence and made his own determination," said assistant district attorney Stephanie Hulsey.
Ever since, you pay anywhere from $196,380 to $205,980 a year for James Lamb to be supervised out of prison.
When he was in an institution it cost you $187,000 per year. Now, Lamb could be headed back behind bars for good.
Friday, Lamb pleaded not guilty for failing to register as a sex offender.
"We were disappointed by this arrest. It is our understanding it was one day late on registration; he was picked up while being driven by his security person coming back from church services," said assitant public defender Deana Davis.
Davis didn't blame the Sheriff's Office for Lamb's arrest, "I believe the sheriff's department did exactly what needed to be done."
She also wasn't blaming Lamb saying he has registered on time 12 times since being on conditional release.
But when Davis was asked whether Liberty Healthcare, who is contracted by the state mental health department to supervise Lamb, was to blame, she didn't say no.
"There's certainly some mitigation there and we'll be looking at that."
"The obligation to register as a sex offender is the obligation of the sex offender, it's not anybody else's obligation," said Hulsey.
