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Published on 07/21/1997 All articles from this issue

Stiritz, on life support, released by court

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue / Town Crier Staff Writer

Following medical evaluations and reports, the state released James Alvin Stiritz, alleged child molester, on his own supervised recognizance. He is paralyzed and on life-support.

"He does not pose a risk at this point," said Deputy District Attorney Linda Condron. "He won't get up and walk away."

In a court hearing July 16 Superior Court Judge William Martin, calling the Stiritz situation "an unusual problem," ruled for the release.

"As long as he was in custody, no one would come and evaluate him (for a long-term placement)," said Stiritz's attorney, Mike Armstrong, a Palo Alto-based criminal lawyer.

Stiritz's family and the state had been looking into long-term care options for him. Stiritz, who suffered a massive stroke on the eve of his trial that was scheduled to begin June 9, continues in intensive care and on a ventilator.

"For all concerned," Condron said, "it is important to get him into placement."

The 62-year-old Los Altos resident, known around town as "Grandpa Jim," faces 13 charges for felony child molestation involving five 4-year-old girls at the Los Altos Parent Preschool during the 1995-96 year.

Stiritz has been in custody since his arrest July 14, 1996, and was held without bail.

The trial has been suspended, but the charges are still in place. In the event Stiritz should recover, the trial would go forward, Condron said.

So far, there has been "no indication of progress or recovery," Condron said.

The families of the alleged victims are going on with their lives, "with the sense that this is unlikely to go to trial," Condron said.

"Parents are just glad to have all this over for now and see some healing in their children.

"One of the children is still having a very difficult time," she said.

On Sept. 24 the judge will make a court evaluation to see if there has been any change in Stiritz's physical condition or care facility, Armstrong said.