Middlesex Man With 50-Year Criminal Record Loses Appeal for Release

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A Middlesex County man with a criminal record dating back to 1971 has lost his appeal challenging his civil commitment to the Special Treatment Unit at East Jersey State Prison. Mickey Vanderpool, 70, of Perth Amboy, was deemed a sexually violent predator and ordered to remain in the unit after serving an 8-year sentence for aggravated assault.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of balancing public safety and individual rights, as well as the difficulties in rehabilitating repeat offenders with long histories of violent and sexual crimes. The decision to civilly commit Vanderpool after his prison sentence reflects the state's efforts to protect the community from high-risk individuals.

The details

Vanderpool's criminal history dates back to 1971 when he was 15 years old. He has been convicted of numerous violent and sexual crimes over the past 50 years, including rape, burglary, assault, and soliciting prostitution. After serving an 8-year sentence for aggravated assault, prosecutors sought to civilly commit Vanderpool to the Special Treatment Unit, which houses individuals deemed to have a mental abnormality requiring further detention and treatment. Two experts testified that Vanderpool was at high risk to engage in future acts of deviant sexual behavior if released.

• Vanderpool's criminal record dates back to 1971 when he was 15 years old.
• In 1973, Vanderpool was sentenced to a juvenile detention facility for damaging cars.
• In 1976, Vanderpool broke into an elderly woman's apartment, tied her up, and raped her.
• In 1979, Vanderpool escaped from custody and committed a robbery.
• Vanderpool was paroled in 1993 after serving 16 years in prison.

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Mickey Vanderpool out on bail.