Alleged sexual predator Bill Gene Hobbs will remain in jail until he is convicted or released.
Hobbs has allegedly terrorized women and girls around San Francisco for years.
He appeared at the San Francisco Superior Court Monday where he pleaded not guilty and was asked to agree not to contact 13 women who reported his actions to police recently.
During the hearing he asked how he was supposed to know to stay away from the women as he did not know their names. He later agreed not to contact the women.
The 34-year-old was arrested on Oct. 14 after a warrant was issued for a total of 16 counts including one count of felony false imprisonment, two counts of misdemeanor assault, six counts of misdemeanor battery, three counts of misdemeanor sexual battery and four counts of misdemeanor public nuisance.
The felony false imprisonment charge is punishable by probation up to three years in county jail.
Multiple women have told The Standard about issues with the man they believe to be Hobbs approaching them in the street, inappropriately touching them and asking them weird questions.
At court, his public defender asked for his felony charge to be lowered to a misdemeanor and asked that Hobbs be released into the care of his mother in Bakersfield.
“It’s not as serious as other cases that we often see,” public defender Max Breecker said. “Under the law, there has to be a legal basis to detain someone. I do not think he should be kept in custody. He works and lives locally.”
District Attorney’s Office prosecutor Brittney Delgado said: “Just because these victims were able to escape felonious conduct, does not mean his conduct is not serious or potentially violent. We cannot negate the totality.”
Hobbs interrupted proceedings multiple times and had to be talked down by his attorney.
He is scheduled to appear in court again Tuesday at 9 a.m.