Kidnap suspect morphed into alleged sex predator (AP)

[Yahoo! News]

AP - Attending high school in a rural suburb east of San Francisco, Phillip Garrido stood apart from the crowd that studied hard, played sports, basked in popularity and set sights on college.

Feeling the drumbeat of the 1960s San Francisco acid rock scene, he was one of the first to let his hair grow long and to smoke marijuana. With a few friends, he formed a band that played hit songs from the likes of Jefferson Airplane and Credence Clearwater Revival. And he painted his bedroom black, covered the walls with psychedelic music posters and illuminated them with black lights.

"He was in the background, not one of the most popular," recalled former classmate Steve Lucchesi. "I thought he was weird, but not that weird... I'm not sure if he was high all the time or saw things differently. But something went haywire."

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During his 1977 rape trial, Garrido blamed drugs and a lack of discipline at home. But psychiatrists concluded his problems were more complex than that.

The federal judge presiding over the trial, relying on another psychiatrist appointed by the court, found Garrido sane enough to stand trial in 1977.

Garrido took the stand in his own defense, but appeared to harm his case more than help it.

Garrido said that "had the advantage of being with many of women, with their will."

But he also testified that LSD and cocaine acted as sexual stimulants, and that he masturbated frequently and often in public places including the "side of schools, grammar schools and high schools, in my own car while I was watching young females."

He also told the jury that his parents taught him right from wrong and that "very unfortunately" his parents never used corporal punishment to discipline him.

Dugard's stepfather, Carl Probyn, said Sunday he does not care what caused Garrido's problems. "The guy is a sick puppy," he said. "He's going to be my pen pal," if he is convicted and sent to prison.