<p>Brian DeVries, a serial child molester who had himself surgically castrated, is one step closer to being released from a maximum-security state mental hospital to live in San Jose under 24-hour electronic surveillance and tight police supervision.</p>
<p>Today, DeVries asked a Santa Clara County judge to release him from Atascadero State Hospital, where 400 of the state's ``sexually violent predators'' are confined indefinitely. A hearing on the matter is set for Feb. 24.</p>