{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cook.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cook-opposes-placement-of-violent-predator-in-joshua-tree", "Rep. Cook Opposes Placement of Violent Predator in Joshua Tree", "2019-10-23", "2019", "2019-10", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Paul Cook", "C001094", "cook.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Yesterday, Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) wrote a letter to Ventura County Judge Nancy Ayers opposing her proposed placement of a sexually violent predator, Ross Leo Wollschlager, in the Joshua Tree community.\nWollschlager was convicted of raping two women in 1983. He served prison time and was released on parole in 1987. While on parole, he entered the room of a 10-year-old girl asleep in her bed and sexually assaulted her. He returned to state prison and was declared a sexually violent predator under the State Welfare & Institutions Code.\nLast week, Judge Nancy Ayers of Ventura County Superior Court ordered Liberty Healthcare to assist in another conditional release for Wollschlager.\nThe proposed relocation site for Wollschlager in Joshua Tree is in close proximity to school bus stops and other forms of public transportation. In addition to area residents, this decision poses a threat to the millions of Joshua Tree National Park visitors who visit throughout the year, including many women and children.\nRep. Cook said, The placement of Ross Wollschlager, a convicted rapist and child molester, in Joshua Tree poses an unnecessary and extreme danger to our community. Mr. Wollschlager has no ties to our county and should be returned to where he's from. I'm adamantly opposed to this order and I'll fight to ensure that our families and children remain safe.\nA member of the House Natural Resources and Armed Services Committees, Cook served as an infantry officer and retired after 26 years as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. During his time in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.\nFull text of the letter can be found HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cook.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cook-opposes-placement-of-violent-predator-in-joshua-tree"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0415208525955677, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}