AFFIRMED and Opinion Filed August 12, 2021 

S 

In The 

Court of Appeals 

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas 

No. 05-20-00519-CV 

IN RE COMMITMENT OF VICTOR DEWAYNE JACKSON 

On Appeal from the 291st Judicial District Court 

Dallas County, Texas 

Trial Court Cause No. CV1970005 

MEMORANDUM OPINION 

Before Justices Molberg, Goldstein, and Smith 

Opinion by Justice Goldstein 

Victor Dewayne Jackson appeals the trial court’s judgment civilly committing 

him for treatment and supervision pursuant to the Texas Civil Commitment of 

Sexually Violent Predators Act (“SVP Act”). Jackson raises three issues on appeal. 

In his first and second issues, Jackson argues the evidence is legally insufficient to 

prove that he is a sexually violent predator due to infirmities in expert opinion 

offered by the State. In his third issue, Jackson asserts the evidence is factually 

insufficient to support the jury’s finding that he is a sexually violent predator. The 

State argues that Jackson failed to preserve error on his first two issues, and that the 

evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s judgment. 
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Civil commitment constitutes a significant deprivation of liberty mandating due 

process protections. Upon a review of the entire record, we affirm. 

I. SVP Act Commitment Standards1

 

 A civil commitment proceeding under the SVP Act (“SVP case”) 

incorporates the “beyond a reasonable doubt” burden of proof typically reserved for 

criminal cases. In re Commitment of Fisher, 164 S.W.3d 637, 641 (Tex.), cert. 

denied, 546 U.S. 938 (2005). In a suit to commit a person as a sexually violent 

predator, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person “(1) is a 

repeat sexually violent offender” who “(2) suffers from a behavioral abnormality 

that makes the person likely to engage in a predatory act of sexual violence.” TEX.

HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §§ 841.003(a), 841.062(a). A person is a “repeat 

sexually violent offender” if he has been convicted of more than one sexually violent 

offense and a sentence was imposed for at least one of the offenses. Id. § 841.003(b);

see also id. § 841.002(8) (defining “sexually violent offense”). The SVP Act defines 

“behavioral abnormality” as “a congenital or acquired condition that, by affecting a 

person’s emotional or volitional capacity, predisposes the person to commit a 

sexually violent offense, to the extent that the person becomes a menace to the health 

and safety of another person.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 841.002(2). A 

1

 The record is silent as to the requisite statutory evaluation process that preceded the case before us 

and therefore is not addressed in this opinion. See TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. §§ 841.001–

841.153. 
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“predatory act” is “an act directed toward individuals, including family members, 

for the primary purpose of victimization.” Id. § 841.002(5). 

II. Background 

Jackson was twice convicted and sentenced for sexually violent offenses: 

• On October 25, 1985, in Cause No. 0244657D by the Criminal 

District Court No. 3 of Tarrant County, Texas, for aggravated sexual assault 

and sentenced to 10 years confinement in the Texas Department of 

Corrections. 

• On October 4, 1990, in Cause No. F90-03102-KU by the 291st 

Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas, for aggravated sexual assault 

with a deadly weapon, enhanced and sentenced to lifetime confinement in 

the Texas Department of Corrections. 

Jackson committed his first aggravated sexual assault on March 20, 1984, 

when he was 15 years old. The record reflects that Jackson went to a woman’s 

apartment, claiming he was sent to touch up paint and collect money. Once Jackson 

was inside, he asked whether other people were there or would be there soon. The 

woman became upset and argumentative, and something in Jackson snapped. He 

forced the woman into a closet, physically and sexually assaulted her, choked her 

with a belt and with his hands, bit her and struck her in the face with his fist, 

threatened her with a knife, and left her unconscious. The victim was a stranger and 

Jackson did not know whether the woman was dead or alive when he left. Jackson 

waived a jury trial and pled guilty to sexual assault and attempted murder by choking 

with a belt. He began a ten-year prison sentence on March 25, 1985, and served 
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approximately four years before being released on parole in April 1989. Jackson 

believed he would never sexually reoffend. 

Approximately one year into his parole, Jackson pled not guilty to committing 

a second sexual assault with a deadly weapon on April 26, 1990. A jury found 

Jackson guilty and sentenced him to life in prison without parole. He was 21 years 

old. Jackson admits that he ostensibly went to recover some of his belongings from 

the home of his child’s grandmother but planned to physically assault her as 

punishment for allegedly mistreating children. Evidence reveals that, once inside, 

Jackson punched her in the face, dragged her into a bedroom, and raped her. Jackson 

held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. He tied her up with a telephone 

cord, but she managed to free herself. Jackson again physically assaulted her, 

retrieved a hammer and threatened to “bash her skull” if she moved, tied her up 

again, and then took a copier from the house and left. 

The case was tried before a jury. Two experts and Jackson testified. In the 

charge, the jury was provided statutory definitions of “sexually violent predator,” 

“repeat sexually violent offender,” “behavioral abnormality,” “predatory act,” and 

“sexually violent offense.” The trial court granted a directed verdict that Jackson 

was a “repeat sexually violent offender” on the ground that uncontested evidence 

showed that Jackson previously was convicted and sentenced for more than one 

sexually violent offense. A unanimous jury found the State proved beyond a 

reasonable doubt that Jackson is a “sexually violent predator.” The court entered 
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judgment civilly committing Jackson for sex-offender treatment and supervision by 

the Texas Civil Commitment Office. Jackson timely filed a motion for new trial and 

a notice of appeal. 

III. Specific Legal Insufficiency Arguments 

In his first appellate issue, Jackson argues the trial record reveals that Dr. 

Clayton’s opinion is not competent evidence because he intruded upon the province 

of the jury by incorrectly asserting the law mandates use of his definition of “likely.” 

In his second issue, Jackson asserts that Dr. Gaines’s opinions are baseless, 

conclusory, and amount to no evidence because Dr. Gaines’s trial testimony revealed 

her opinion was not based on the statutory definition of “behavioral abnormality.” 

A. Error Preservation 

The State asserts that Jackson failed to preserve error on Issues One and Two 

because he made no objection at trial to the admissibility or reliability of either 

expert witness’s testimony, his motion for directed verdict merely asserted the State 

had not met its burden of proof, and his motion for new trial offered no argument 

supporting his conclusion that the evidence was legally insufficient. Jackson’s 

motion for new trial challenged the legal and factual sufficiency of evidence to 

support findings that he suffers from a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely 

to engage in a predatory act of sexual violence, that he has serious difficulty 

controlling his behavior, and that he is a sexually violent predator as statutorily 

defined. The motion also challenged the competence of expert opinion regarding 
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Jackson’s likelihood of reoffending, and as the statute fails to define “likely,” 

contended it is void, unconstitutional, and rendered the expert opinion a guess as to 

the term’s meaning. 

Complaints of legal and factual insufficiency of evidence raised in a motion 

for new trial generally are preserved for review. TEX. R. APP. P. 33.1(a); TEX. R.

CIV. P. 324(b); In re Commitment of Ratliff, No. 05-16-01425-CV, 2018 WL 

3829264, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 13, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.). Under a 

legal sufficiency analysis, an expert’s opinion constitutes no more than a mere 

scintilla of evidence if the opinion is not reliable under the same standards that 

govern admissibility, is speculative or conclusory on its face, or is based on 

unfounded assumptions. Gunn v. McCoy, 554 S.W.3d 645, 662–63 (Tex. 2018) 

(citing Coastal Transp. Co., Inc. v. Crown Cent. Petroleum Corp., 136 S.W.3d 227, 

233 (Tex. 2004)). A distinction exists between challenges to an expert’s scientific 

methodology and no-evidence challenges alleging the face of the record 

demonstrates that expert opinion lacks probative value. City of San Antonio v. 

Pollock, 284 S.W.3d 809, 817 (Tex. 2009). When expert opinion is admitted in 

evidence without objection, it may be considered probative evidence even if the 

basis for the opinion is unreliable. W & T Offshore, Inc. v. Fredieu, 610 S.W.3d 

884, 899 (Tex. 2020) (citing Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 818). When a reliability 

challenge requires evaluation of the underlying methodology, technique, or 

foundational data used by an expert, failure to object at trial waives appellate review 
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because the trial court should conduct this analysis. Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 817; 

Gunn, 554 S.W.3d at 661–62. Failure to object does not waive legal sufficiency 

challenges to the reliability of expert opinion where there is no need to go beyond 

the record to test whether the opinion is conclusory or speculative on its face, 

contains fatal gaps in analysis, or is simply incorrect. See Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 

817–18; Gunn, 554 S.W.3d at 662. A judgment may not be supported by conclusory 

expert testimony, even if a party did not object to admission of such testimony, 

because it is considered no evidence. Bombardier Aerospace Corp. v. SPEP Aircraft 

Holdings, LLC, 572 S.W.3d 213, 222–23 (Tex. 2019). 

While Jackson failed to object to the admissibility of the experts’ testimony 

or the reliability of their underlying data and methodologies, his specific legal 

sufficiency challenges raised in Issues One and Two can be evaluated on the face of 

the record before us and we will address them. 

B. Standards of Reviewing Expert Testimony 

Although expert testimony often provides valuable evidence, it is the basis of 

the witness’s opinion rather than the witness’s qualifications or bare opinions alone 

that can settle an issue as a matter of law; therefore a claim will not stand or fall on 

the mere ipse dixit of a credentialed witness. Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 816 (citing 

Coastal Transp., 136 S.W.3d at 232). If an expert opinion has no basis, the basis 

offered provides no support, or the opinion assumes facts contrary to conclusively 

proven facts, it is conclusory and cannot be considered probative evidence. See 
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Gunn, 554 S.W.3d at 662–63; Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 817–18. Opinion testimony 

that is conclusory or speculative is “incompetent evidence” because it does not tend 

to make the existence of a material fact “more probable or less probable.” See TEX.

R. EVID. 401; Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 816. 

1. Issue One Analysis 

Jackson contends the evidence is legally insufficient to prove he suffers from 

a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to engage in a predatory act of sexual 

violence because Dr. Clayton based his expert opinion on an incorrect belief that 

case law mandates he define “likely” as “probably or beyond a mere possibility.” 

Jackson asserts this was harmful because Dr. Clayton invaded the jury’s province to 

decide whether Jackson is likely to engage in future sexual violence by causing the 

jury to falsely believe the law mandates use of Dr. Clayton’s definition. 

We have addressed this argument before. While experts in prior cases have 

testified that the term “likely” has been defined by case law to mean “more than a 

mere possibility,” this is incorrect, as neither the statute nor courts have defined 

“likely” in this context. In re Commitment of Hill, 621 S.W.3d 336, 342–43, 343 n. 

3 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2021, no pet.). Even though courts have not mandated a 

particular definition of “likely,” courts have found evidence legally and factually 

sufficient to support SVP findings in cases where the expert’s working definition of 
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“likely” was “more than a mere possibility.”2

 This Court has stated the term ‘likely’ 

in the Act ‘does not require evidence of a specific percentage of risk, and the term 

should not be interpreted to mean ‘more likely than not.’ Rather, the expert’s 

personal definition of ‘likely’ goes to the weight the jury decides to give the expert’s 

testimony.’” Commitment of Hill, 621 S.W.3d at 343 n.3 (quoting Commitment of 

Johnson, 2019 WL 364475, at *3) (internal citation omitted). 

Here, Dr. Clayton stated his “understanding” that case law has “examined” 

definitions of “likely” in the context of the statute. When given the choice between 

case law and a dictionary definition of “likely,” Dr. Clayton testified, “I’m going by 

the case law on this type of evaluation,” because he thought, “it’s better to use how 

it’s been defined within these evaluations.” Dr. Clayton asserted that he chooses to 

define “likely” in the same manner it was defined in prior expert evaluations that 

were found acceptable by previous courts in case law he has reviewed, and never 

affirmatively stated that case law mandates his or the jury’s use of his proffered 

definition that “likely” in the context of the SPV Act means “probably or beyond a 

mere possibility.” Additionally, Dr. Clayton agreed that (1) the statute does not 

2 See, e.g., Commitment of Hill, 621 S.W.3d at 343–44; In re Commitment of Mendoza, No. 05-18-

01202-CV, 2019 WL 5205710, at *7 (Tex. App.—Dallas Oct. 16, 2019, pet. denied) (mem. op.); In re

Commitment of Johnson, No. 05-17-01171-CV, 2019 WL 364475, at *3, 6 (Tex. App.—Dallas Jan. 30, 

2019, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re Commitment of Rollings, No. 05-17-00938-CV, 2018 WL 6695731, at *5–

6 (Tex. App.—Dallas, Dec. 20, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re Commitment of Riojas, No. 04-17-00082-

CV, 2017 WL 4938818, at *4 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Nov. 1, 2017, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re 

Commitment of Terry, No. 09-15-00500-CV, 2016 WL 7323299, at *13–14 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Dec. 

15, 2016, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re Commitment of Muzzy, No. 09–13–00496–CV, 2014 WL 1778254, at 

*2–3 (Tex. App.—Beaumont May 1, 2014, pet. denied) (mem. op.). 
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define “likely,” (2) that it would be very misleading to assign a numerical probability 

to Jackson’s likelihood of engaging in a future predatory act, (3) that his opinion is 

not a prediction of Jackson’s future actions, (4) that he is not an attorney, and (5) 

that he believes the jury is free to use the dictionary definition of “likely.” As we 

have said, an expert’s “explanation of how he ‘conceptualizes’ the term ‘likely’” 

does not “render the evidence. . .legally or factually insufficient.” Commitment of 

Mendoza, 2019 WL 5205710, at *7; accord Commitment of Hill, 621 S.W.3d at 343. 

After reviewing all of Dr. Clayton’s trial testimony, we conclude that he did not 

misrepresent legal precedent when describing the working definition of “likely” he 

employed in reaching his opinion that Jackson meets the statutory definition of a 

sexually violent predator. 

Jackson also contends that the term “likely” should have been defined in a 

manner that would ensure it does not apply to every repeat sex offender, but only to 

a “small but extremely dangerous group” of offenders “not amenable to traditional 

treatment modalities” in keeping with Section 841.001’s statement of legislative 

purpose. We previously addressed this argument and found the legislative purpose 

language does not appear in the Act’s “sexually violent predator” definition, thus, 

are not elements the State must prove. Commitment of Johnson, 2019 WL 364475, 

at *3. Citing Commitment of Johnson with approval, the Texas Supreme Court 

expressly rejected this argument, holding the legislative purpose language is not part 

of the statute’s SVP definition and therefore is not an element the jury must find. In 
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re Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d 665, 677–78 (Tex. 2020). We conclude 

that Dr. Clayton’s testimony regarding his definition of “likely” does not render the 

evidence in this case legally insufficient.

2. Issue Two Analysis 

Jackson asserts the evidence is legally insufficient because Dr. Gaines’s trial 

testimony revealed her conclusions were based on a standard that pre-dates the SVP 

Act rather than the statutory definition of “behavioral abnormality,” proving her 

expert opinion is ipse dixit and conclusory. Specifically, Jackson contends Dr. 

Gaines’s testimony that the standard she uses to determine whether someone has a 

behavioral abnormality “has been ongoing for centuries the way a doctor approaches 

a patient” reveals her opinion has no basis because “a ‘behavioral abnormality’ is a 

statutory construct that did not exist prior to being written into being by the Texas 

Legislature.”3

 To the extent Jackson suggests Dr. Gaines should have based her 

opinions on the Act’s legislative purpose language, we are bound to reject this 

argument. See Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 677–78. Jackson’s 

argument also fails because the SVP Act does not mandate a particular methodology 

for experts to use in evaluating whether a person has a “behavioral abnormality.” 

While the statutory definition was created in 1999, the field of psychiatry and the 

3

 Jackson relies on the SVP Act’s legislative purpose language and an intermediate appellate decision 

reversed by the Texas Supreme Court after Jackson submitted briefing in this appeal. See In re Commitment 

of Stoddard, 601 S.W.3d 879 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2019), rev’d, 619 S.W.3d 665 (Tex. 2020). 
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methodologies employed to diagnose the myriad of psychiatric disorders that can 

satisfy the SVP Act’s definition of “behavioral abnormality” long pre-date the 

statute, as the Texas Legislature did not invent psychosis. We conclude that Dr. 

Gaines’s statements do not establish that her opinions are baseless or legally 

insufficient.4

Accordingly, we conclude the evidence is legally sufficient and overrule 

Issues One and Two. 

IV. Issue Three - Sufficiency of Evidence 

In his third issue, Jackson contends the evidence is factually insufficient to 

support the jury’s finding that Jackson is a sexually violent predator. Jackson does 

not challenge the directed verdict that his prior convictions establish he is a “repeat 

sexually violent offender,” which satisfies the first element of the SVP Act’s 

definition of a “sexually violent predator.” Jackson instead challenges the evidence 

as factually insufficient to support the second element of the SVP definition—that 

he suffers from a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to engage in a 

4

 Jackson also contends that Dr. Gaines merely asserted that her “testimony properly relied upon and 

utilized the principles involved in the field of psychiatry” and, like the expert rejected in Coble v. State, 

cited to no research, books, articles, journals, or work of other forensic psychiatrists who practice in this 

area to support her methodology. We note the trial record reveals that Dr. Gaines offered a more detailed 

explanation of her methodology than Jackson portrays, that Coble is factually distinguishable, and that the 

expert in Coble was found lacking after the trial court conducted a gatekeeper hearing upon a timely 

objection. See Coble v. State, 330 S.W.3d 253, 270 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010). Because Jackson’s failure to 

object at trial waived any appellate complaint that would require evaluation of Dr. Gaines’s qualifications 

or the reliability of her underlying methodologies, and because we find that Jackson’s legal insufficiency 

arguments based on the face of the record have no merit, the jury was entitled to consider the testimony of 

Dr. Clayton and Dr. Gaines as probative evidence. See Pollock, 284 S.W.3d at 817-18. 
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predatory act of sexual violence. Jackson reiterates his contention that the expert 

opinion is unscientific and speculative, and argues this deficiency coupled with 

countervailing evidence of protective factors overcomes the weight of evidence 

supporting the experts’ conclusions that he has such a behavioral abnormality. 

A. Standards of Review 

If a party challenges both the legal and factual sufficiency of evidence, we 

first review for legal sufficiency and only reach a factual sufficiency review if the 

evidence is found legally sufficient. Windrum v. Kareh, 581 S.W.3d 761, 781 (Tex. 

2019). In SVP cases, we employ the criminal standard of review for legal 

sufficiency challenges. Commitment of Johnson, 2019 WL 364475, at *2. We must 

view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution and determine 

whether any rational factfinder could have found the essential elements of the crime 

beyond a reasonable doubt. Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 675 (citing 

Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979)). The Texas Supreme Court recently 

clarified the distinction between legal and factual sufficiency standards of review in 

civil cases where, as here, the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 668. In both legal and factual sufficiency 

review, we presume the factfinder resolved disputed evidence in favor of the finding 

if a reasonable factfinder could do so, but we must consider undisputed facts contrary 

to a finding. Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 676. A distinction arises in 

treatment of disputed evidence that a reasonable factfinder could not have credited 
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in favor of a finding—we disregard such disputed evidence in a legal sufficiency 

review, but we consider this disputed evidence in a factual sufficiency review. Id. 

(emphasis added). Evidence is legally insufficient to support a jury finding when 

(1) the record discloses a complete absence of evidence of a vital fact; (2) the court 

is barred by rules of law or of evidence from giving weight to the only evidence 

offered to prove a vital fact; (3) the evidence offered to prove a vital fact is no more 

than a mere scintilla; or (4) the evidence establishes conclusively the opposite of a 

vital fact. Gunn, 554 S.W.3d at 658. 

B. Legal Sufficiency Analysis 

The State presented two expert witnesses—Dr. Kyle Clayton and Dr. Sheri 

Gaines. Dr. Clayton, a psychologist licensed in Texas since 2012, has a private 

practice in forensic psychology and is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at 

UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he supervises forensic psychology students 

and has taught classes in forensics. He has been involved in approximately 50 

behavioral abnormality evaluations and has performed over 100 sex offense risk 

assessments. Dr. Gaines is a licensed medical doctor who is board certified both in 

psychiatry, and in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has been practicing forensic 

psychiatry for nearly 30 years and has testified in over 100 SVP cases. While asking 

a jury to accept expert opinion based on their status as an expert will not suffice, an 

expert’s experience alone may provide a sufficient basis for expert testimony. 

Bombardier, 572 S.W.3d at 223, 227. 
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The experts each testified they followed a standard methodology that is in 

accordance with their training, accepted in their respective fields, and used by other 

evaluators performing behavioral abnormality evaluations. The methodology Dr. 

Clayton employed included reviewing hundreds of pages of records relevant to 

Jackson’s case, conducting a three-to-four-hour, face-to-face interview with 

Jackson, and administering and scoring risk assessments. Dr. Gaines reviewed 

results of the risk assessment tools Dr. Clayton administered to Jackson, reviewed 

relevant records, and conducted her own three-hour interview with Jackson. The 

records reviewed by both experts include documents from Jackson’s arrests, such as 

offense reports and witness statements, records from his trials and incarcerations, 

disciplinary records, academic and occupational records, medical and psychiatric 

records, depositions, and prior expert evaluations. The experts both testified that the 

risk assessments and records relied upon are the same types of assessments and 

records typically relied upon by other forensic psychologists and psychiatrists. This 

Court previously rejected assertions that expert opinion was speculative or 

conclusory where the expert was licensed, experienced, followed a standard 

methodology, reviewed the person’s records, interviewed the person, and used or 

reviewed testing and risk-assessment tools. See In re Commitment of Joiner, No. 

05-18-01001-CV, 2019 WL 4126602, at *3–8 (Tex. App.—Dallas Aug. 30, 2019, 
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pet. denied) (mem. op.); In re Commitment of Sawyer, No. 05-17-00516-CV, 2018 

WL 3372924, at *7 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 11, 2018, pet. denied) (mem. op.).5

 

Both doctors testified at length regarding the factual bases of their shared 

conclusion that Jackson has behavioral abnormalities that make him likely to engage 

in future predatory acts of sexual violence. They described risk factors that, if 

present, increase the likelihood a person will reoffend, and they discussed protective 

factors that militate against a predisposition to reoffend. The doctors testified that 

these factors arose from an accepted body of published research and are widely used 

in behavioral abnormality evaluations for SVP Act commitments. As each factor 

was discussed, the experts described specific facts relied upon in determining 

whether the factor applies to Jackson. We summarize the trial testimony as follows: 

1. Mental Health Diagnoses 

While a medical diagnosis of a mental health disorder is not required evidence 

in SVP cases, it informs the relevant assessment whether the defendant has an 

abnormality affecting his emotional or volitional capacity in a way that predisposes 

him to sexually violent conduct. In re Commitment of Bohannan, 388 SW.3d 296, 

5

 We note without comment that numerous courts have examined Dr. Gaines’s methodology for 

conducting behavioral abnormality evaluations and accepted her testimony as competent evidence. See, 

e.g., Commitment of Joiner, 2019 WL 4126602, at *2–8; In re Commitment of H.L.T., 549 S.W.3d 656, 

661–64 (Tex. App.—Waco 2017, pet. denied); In re Commitment of Arnold, No. 09-15-00499-CV, 2016 

WL 4483181, at *7 (Tex. App.— Beaumont Aug. 25, 2016, pet. denied) (mem. op.); In re Commitment of 

Gollihar, 224 S.W.3d 843, 849–54 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2007, no pet.). 
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304–06 (Tex. 2012), cert. denied, 569 U.S. 1009 (2013). Both doctors diagnosed 

Jackson with antisocial personality disorder based upon documentary evidence and 

Jackson’s own statements during each of their personal interviews. Dr. Clayton 

explained that this disorder can affect a person’s emotional or volitional capacities 

and is defined by prolonged, persistent difficulties with conduct, difficulties with 

authority, defiance, not following rules, reckless behavior, and impulsive behavior. 

He opined that antisocial personality disorder coupled with sexual deviancy places 

a person at a higher risk to sexually reoffend because the antisocial personality does 

not follow rules or laws, does not care if they harm other people, and is impulsive 

and reckless, making them more likely to act out on feelings of anger or aggression. 

Dr. Clayton stated it is one of the more difficult disorders to treat and treatment is 

focused on the resulting behaviors because, once established by early adulthood, a 

person’s personality cannot be changed. Dr. Clayton’s review of Jackson’s records 

revealed evidence of antisocial behaviors. Jackson exhibited behavioral difficulties 

in childhood and adolescence, including theft, physical altercations, and committing 

his first sexual offense as a juvenile. His antisocial behaviors persisted into 

adulthood, as Jackson was arrested multiple times for non-sexual offenses during the 

one-year period between being released on parole for his first sexual assault and 

committing his second sexual assault. Additionally, Jackson received over 200 

disciplinary infractions throughout his time in prison for breaking a variety of rules, 

including “disciplinaries” for sexual misconduct that included inappropriate sexual 
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relationships in prison and public masturbation toward guards. While anti-social 

behaviors tend to reduce over time with age, the doctors have not seen this in 

Jackson’s case. 

Dr. Clayton used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) in 

diagnosing Jackson with “unspecified paraphilic disorder.” A paraphilic disorder is 

related to sexual deviancy and includes pedophilia, sexual sadism, sexual 

masochism, and exhibitionism. This disorder is a condition that affects a person’s 

emotional or volitional capacities and a person with this disorder is at a higher risk 

to commit a predatory act of sexual violence. Dr. Clayton diagnosed Jackson’s 

disorder as “unspecified” because it is not restricted to one aspect of paraphilia. 

Jackson’s disorder is characterized by sexual gratification from sexual acts against 

non-consenting people, exhibitionism, and sexual sadism. Dr. Clayton’s diagnosis 

was informed by details of Jackson’s sexual assaults, his sexual misconduct in 

prison, and interviews with Jackson. According to Dr. Clayton, Jackson’s history 

indicates his disorder is a long standing and well-ingrained issue that will require a 

considerable amount of prolonged treatment to make reasonable change possible, 

and Jackson has not had the type of prolonged treatment necessary. The doctor 

opined that Jackson’s continued urges to act out sexually, continued rationalization, 

continued poor insight, and continued sexual misconduct in prison, are all evidence 

that his emotional and volitional capacities are still affected by his paraphilic 

disorder. 
 –19– 

Dr. Gaines diagnosed Jackson with sexual sadism disorder, which is sexual 

gratification derived from someone else’s humiliation, embarrassment, or pain. Dr. 

Gaines opined that Jackson acted in a sexually sadistic manner when committing his 

sexual assaults and throughout his time in prison, and that his public masturbation 

in prison also meets the criteria for diagnosis as an exhibitionist. 

2. Risk Assessment Tools 

Dr. Clayton employed the Static-99R, which he described as the gold standard 

of actuarial risk measurement for predicting the likelihood of sexually offending in 

the future. Jackson scored a six, which falls in the highest risk range when compared 

to others who have been convicted of a sexual offense. Dr. Clayton also used the 

Risk for Sexual Violence Protocol in his evaluation of Jackson. This instrument lists 

numerous risk factors identified by research for sexual offending and the evaluator 

notes which factors are relevant to the individual being evaluated. The instrument 

does not yield a score, but puts the person in a category of low, moderate, or high 

risk of reoffending. Jackson fell into the high risk category. 

Dr. Clayton scored the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) for Jackson. 

He explained that psychopathy is a rarer, more intense, and more problematic form 

of antisocial personality disorder, and that psychopathy affects every aspect of a 

person, impacting their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Jackson’s score of 31 

indicates he has a psychopathic personality style. Dr. Clayton testified the research 

demonstrates that psychopathy increases a person’s risk for violent offending, 
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including sexual offending, because a psychopath can very easily manipulate and 

fool a potential victim. Dr. Gaines agreed with Dr. Clayton’s descriptions of 

psychopathy as a risk factor and agreed Jackson has a psychopathic personality. 

3. Risk Factors for Reoffending 

Dr. Clayton explained that some risk factors weigh more heavily in suggesting 

a high likelihood of reoffending, and the doctors agreed that research indicates the 

two strongest predictors of sexual reoffending are the presence of sexual deviance 

and an antisocial personality. Jackson was diagnosed with antisocial personality 

disorder, psychopathic personality disorder, and more than one form of sexual 

deviance. Dr. Clayton pointed to facts from Jackson’s first sexually violent offense 

suggesting sexual deviancy and antisocial traits, including offending against a 

stranger, offending both physically and sexually, leaving the scene and initially 

denying committing the crime, and eventually being convicted of aggravated sexual 

assault. Dr. Gaines described Jackson’s use of extreme physical violence in 

committing his sexual crimes as “a gigantic risk factor,” as Jackson used force, bit 

and hit his victims, threatened them with and used weapons, and choked his first 

victim until she was unconscious. Dr. Gaines identified other risk factors, including 

escalation of sexual violence and the psychological coercion used in both offenses, 

with Jackson entering the first home under false pretenses and taking advantage of 

a trust relationship to gain entry into the second.
 –21– 

Dr. Clayton identified the chronicity of sexual violence as a risk factor 

because Jackson sexually reoffended after a period of time, indicating the first sexual 

assault was not an isolated incident. He found it significant that Jackson committed 

a second sexually violent offense after being caught and convicted because most 

sexual offenders do not reoffend after detection. Dr. Clayton explained that 

committing a second sexual assault while on parole also is consistent with antisocial 

psychopathy because it demonstrates Jackson’s problems with supervision and 

inability to control his behavior, even while still being supervised. Dr. Gaines agreed 

that Jackson’s “persistence after punishment” is significant, also identifying 

chronicity as a significant risk factor. Dr. Gaines observed that Jackson first 

offended at a very young age, itself a risk factor for repeating the behavior, and 

Jackson then repeated the behavior with a second sexual assault and continued his 

pattern of sexual misbehavior over decades in prison. She also noted that Jackson 

still exhibits an attitude that condones sexual violence. 

The doctors agreed that Jackson’s receipt of approximately 200 disciplinaries 

in prison for failing to follow rules, for creating disturbances, and for both 

threatening and assaulting inmates and prison officials is evidence of his antisocial 

personality. They agree Jackson’s continued inability to control his sexual impulses 

and sexual deviancy is demonstrated by twenty-three sexual misconduct 

disciplinaries received from 1992 to 2017. Jackson received these for exposing 

himself to male and female officers, attempting and sometimes achieving an 
 –22– 

inappropriate sexual relationship with female staff, and masturbating in front of 

female officers. Jackson told Dr. Clayton that sometimes he masturbated in front of 

female guards for sexual gratification because he believed they wanted him to, but 

sometimes he did this to release his anger towards an aggressive or abrasive woman 

to punish her. Jackson described having similar feelings as he had at the time of his 

sexual assaults—sexual gratification and releasing anger that he considered triggered 

by behavior of those he repeatedly referred to as “whorish women” he desired to 

punish. Dr. Clayton characterized Jackson’s statements as indicative of a general 

objectification of women, antisocial psychopathic personality, and the risk factor of 

condoning sexual violence. 

The doctors agreed that lying and presenting different versions of events is 

common for people with antisocial psychopathic personality. In his interview with 

Dr. Clayton, Jackson denied that he sexually assaulted his child’s grandmother, but 

admitted that he was angry with her, went to her home with intent to and in fact 

physically assaulted her, held a knife to her throat, and may have wanted to kill her. 

Jackson maintained that he was lying in previous statements when he admitted to 

her rape, but told Dr. Clayton that she deserved what she got because of the way she 

treated children. Dr. Clayton explained that Jackson’s propensity to change details 

of his offenses in a way he believes will benefit him speaks to his antisocial 

personality, his failure to take responsibility, and a lack of insight into his own 

behavior. Dr. Clayton opined that Jackson still displays psychopathic traits such as 
 –23– 

grandiosity, narcissism, lying, and manipulation. One example is that Jackson 

admits to running scams in prison and gaming the system by faking suicide attempts 

to secure transfers to a psychiatric unit or another facility he preferred. His last 

transfer was in 2018. 

Dr. Clayton identified Jackson’s problem with self-awareness as another risk 

factor for reoffending. Rather than admit he has problems that need treatment, 

Jackson denies or minimizes his sexual offenses, externalizes responsibility by 

blaming his inner rage on a desire to punish women due to mistreatment by females 

early in life, and rationalizes his sexual acting out as beyond his control because his 

anger is triggered. Dr. Clayton explained that Jackson’s planned physical attack to 

release his rage at his child’s grandmother and violent thoughts about female guards 

indicate the risk factor of violent ideation. Jackson admits to using masturbation to 

cope with stress, and Dr. Clayton characterized this as problematic due to Jackson’s 

sexual deviancy and history of sexual offenses. 

Dr. Gaines agreed that Jackson has all of the risk factors identified by Dr. 

Clayton. Additionally, Dr. Gaines explained that having a stranger as a victim is a 

risk factor because it means the pool of potential victims is very large, and that 

Jackson’s sexual misconduct in prison aimed at male correctional officers is a risk 

factor because it makes his pool of potential victims even larger. 

Our review of the record reveals that ample factual evidence supports the 

opinions of Dr. Clayton and Dr. Gaines, and therefore their conclusions cannot be 
 –24– 

characterized as conclusory or speculative. We conclude the expert testimony of Dr. 

Clayton and Dr. Gaines is competent evidence that the jury could rely upon in 

reaching their verdict. After reviewing the evidence in the light most favorable to 

the prosecution, we conclude any rational factfinder could have found beyond a 

reasonable doubt that Jackson is a sexually violent predator as defined by the SVP 

Act. See Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 675. 

C. Factual Sufficiency Analysis 

The Texas Supreme Court recently clarified the proper factual sufficiency 

standard of review for SVP Act cases. The Court stated: 

We hold that a properly conducted factual-sufficiency review in an 

SVP case requires the court of appeals to determine whether, on the 

entire record, a reasonable factfinder could find beyond a reasonable 

doubt that the defendant is an SVP. In so doing, the appellate court 

may not usurp the jury’s role of determining the credibility of 

witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony, and the court 

must presume that the factfinder resolved disputed evidence in favor 

of the finding if a reasonable factfinder could do so. If the remaining 

evidence contrary to the finding is so significant in light of the entire 

record that the factfinder could not have determined beyond a 

reasonable doubt that its finding was true, the evidence is factually 

insufficient to support the verdict. 

 Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 668. 

Jackson contends the evidence is factually insufficient to support the jury’s 

finding that he is a sexually violent predator because countervailing evidence of 

protective factors was not sufficiently credited in his favor. 
 –25– 

While the presence of protective factors could provide evidence contrary to 

the jury’s finding, and being over 50 years of age is statistically protective, both 

experts devalued the protection this offers Jackson personally because he admitted 

to still having sexual urges and his sexual misconduct in prison was persistent and 

recent. The experts agreed that having a good support system is a protective factor. 

Jackson was married approximately ten years ago while in prison, and he described 

recent communication with his sister, brother-in-law, and mother. However, neither 

doctor was able to ascertain the strength of Jackson’s support system as a protective 

factor because records indicate that Jackson’s relationships have not been 

consistently supportive. 

Jackson specifically argues the following facts should be considered 

protective factors strong enough to render the jury’s finding that he is a sexually 

violent predator factually insufficient: (1) while undeterred by a four-year 

incarceration as a juvenile, he might now exercise control over his behavior after 

having served almost thirty years in prison; (2) his disciplinary infractions in prison 

were not serious enough to warrant prosecution and he has not committed any 

“sexually violent offenses” during his thirty year incarceration; (3) targeting female 

guards for exhibitionist masturbation is a common problem in prisons; and (4) he 

worked to improve himself during incarceration by attaining a GED and by 

participating in prison programs such as anger management and cognitive therapy. 
 –26– 

1. Deterrent Effect of Time Served 

Jackson argues the deterrent effect of his incarceration for almost thirty years 

mitigates against the finding that he is a sexually violent predator. This court has 

rejected this argument, observing the issue is whether a defendant meets the 

definition of a “sexually violent predator,” not whether the experience of 

incarceration may have had a deterrent effect. Commitment of Joiner, 2019 WL 

4126602, at *9 (deterrent effect of thirty-year incarceration not considered in factual 

sufficiency review). The notion that SVP evidence can be rendered factually 

insufficient by being imprisoned before more offenses could be committed 

improperly adds a required element to the statute because the SVP Act defines 

“sexually violent predator” in part as “a repeat sexual offender,” which is satisfied 

by evidence of two convictions and at least one sentence for sexually violent 

offenses. Id. 

2. Lack of Recidivism 

The jury heard expert opinion that Jackson’s receipt of over 200 disciplinaries 

throughout his time in prison was evidence that his antisocial and psychopathic 

personality disorders continue to affect his emotional and volitional capacities, and 

that the sexual nature of recent disciplinaries shows that he still suffers from sexual 

deviancy. Jackson argues his disciplinaries were received for conduct that does not 

meet the statutory definition of “sexually violent offense,” so his failure to commit 

additional sexually violent offenses during his thirty-year confinement should 
 –27– 

overcome the evidence of his inability to control his behavior. Because the SVP Act 

requires only two sexually violent offenses to satisfy the “repeat sexual offender” 

element, we reject arguments that a lack of sexually violent recidivism, even during 

long periods of freedom, is evidence mitigating against a SVP finding. See 

Commitment of Joiner, 2019 WL 4126602, at *9 (evidence of ten-year gap between 

two sexual offenses when unconfined does not render SVP finding factually 

insufficient); Commitment of Mendoza, 2019 WL 5205710, at *7–8 (rejecting 

similar factual insufficiency argument that exhibitionist behavior in prison not 

“sexually violent”). 

Whether a “repeat sexual offender” is likely to reoffend is not a separate 

element of proof in addition to whether the offender has a “behavioral abnormality” 

as defined by the SVP statute because the condition (behavioral abnormality) and 

the predisposition (likelihood) are one and the same. Commitment of Bohannan, 388 

S.W.3d at 302–03. Thus, the only fact issue is whether a “repeat sexual offender” 

has a predisposition to commit a sexually violent offense due to impairments in 

emotional or volitional capacity–the “behavioral abnormality.” Bohannan, 388 

S.W.3d at 305. Our sister courts recognize that the prevalence of ordinary conduct 

is of limited value in a factual sufficiency analysis because the SVP Act does not 

require a percentage statement of whether a person is likely to reoffend, and the 

question is whether there are sufficient indicia that a person has a condition causing 

predisposition toward violent sexual conduct. In re Commitment of Ausbie, No. 14-
 –28– 

18-00167-CV, 2021 WL 1972407, at *8 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] May 18, 

2021, no pet.) (substitute mem. op.) (rejecting argument that two offenses over eight 

years unconfined showed defendant exercised control 99.9993% of the time). Such 

an argument “belies the magnitude of violent sexual offenses. By [t]his reasoning, 

the captain of the Titanic might as well have boasted about how many icebergs he 

avoided.” See Commitment of Ausbie, 2021 WL 1972407, at *8, (quoting In re 

Commitment of Woods, No. 02-19-00155-CV, 2020 WL 3969958, at *8 (Tex. 

App.—Fort Worth June 11, 2020, pet. denied) (mem. op.)). We agree. 

3. Disciplinary Infractions Commonplace 

At trial, Jackson minimized the validity and serious nature of his disciplinary 

infractions and testified that all prisoners get disciplinaries, while Dr. Gaines 

testified she has evaluated many prisoners who received no disciplinaries. Jackson 

now argues the experts put too much weight on disciplinaries in forming their 

opinions and cites to evidence that it is common in prisons for inmates to target 

female guards for exhibitionist masturbation. Jackson’s argument fails, as the Texas 

Supreme Court rejects factual insufficiency arguments based on the notion that the 

SVP Act is aimed at the “worst of the worst,” making clear the Act merely “requires 

evidence of both repeat past sexually violent behavior and a present condition that 

creates a likelihood of such conduct in the future.” See Commitment of Stoddard, 

619 S.W.3d at 678. Even if public masturbation and other sexual misconduct is 
 –29– 

commonplace, this does not militate against finding the behavior is evidence that a 

predisposition remains that makes sexual reoffending more likely. 

4. Education and Treatment as Protective Factors 

The jury heard Jackson’s testimony regarding his efforts to improve himself, 

including his prior participation in educational and therapeutic classes, his current 

participation in a sex offender treatment program, and his Christian faith. Some of 

Jackson’s testimony was disputed, and the jury had the opportunity to weigh his 

credibility. Jackson testified he took anger management classes in prison, but there 

also was evidence that he was offered anger management in 2014 and refused it. 

While Jackson received a GED and took some college courses in prison, there was 

evidence he was forced to discontinue some of the courses because of his behavior. 

The jury heard evidence that Jackson was participating in a nine-month sex 

offender treatment program that he began six months before trial, which was the first 

time sex offender treatment was offered to Jackson. Dr. Clayton testified the goal 

of treatment is to teach a person to manage his deviant sexual thoughts and 

behaviors. Jackson testified he is not having any problems in treatment. The experts 

reviewed records indicating that during the educational phase, Jackson completed 

his assignments, participated in class, and was attentive. Treatment notes indicated 

that during a later phase, Jackson still had issues with being accountable to the group, 

sometimes creating a disturbance in therapy and sometimes deflecting from himself 

onto others. Jackson admitted he was reprimanded by the group for not 
 –30– 

participating, but said he was never written up for failing to participate and denied 

an accusation that he caused one of his peers to get a black eye. The records indicate 

that Jackson still rationalizes his past behaviors rather than taking full responsibility 

for his actions. At trial, Jackson denied the truth of facts underlying convictions for 

unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and drug possession occurring during his one 

year of parole between sexual assaults and accused authorities and prior evaluators 

of lying about his statements to them. Dr. Gaines concluded that until Jackson takes 

full responsibility, it will be very difficult for him to succeed in treatment. 

The jury heard evidence that, both before and midway through treatment, 

Jackson expressed that he did not need sex offender treatment. In his deposition, 

Jackson said he was willing to participate in the program because he had a lot to 

offer his peers so that they could receive the intervention necessary for them to avoid 

prison. Jackson told the parole board he was a “waste of beauty” and he believed he 

could help others overcome their sexual problems and anger. He wrote on a sex 

offender treatment worksheet that after he raped the first woman, he felt empowered, 

sexually satisfied, and “I fulfilled my fantasies to be with a white woman sexually.” 

At trial, Jackson denied details of his sexual offenses that he previously admitted 

during his deposition or prior evaluations and denied the truth of the information he 

wrote in sex offender treatment, stating: “In order to complete the sex offender 

program you’ve got to admit to the things that are in the police report. If you don’t[,] 

you don’t leave prison, period.” Jackson testified that he has no triggers that would 
 –31– 

cause him to reoffend, but he admitted a high-risk situation for him to reoffend 

sexually would be encountering abusive or aggressive women. He believes he is 

safe to be in the community because he will stay away from these women. Dr. 

Gaines believes that Jackson has a very limited understanding of his problems and a 

lot more work to do to change. 

Considering research-based protective factors as well as risk factors, the 

doctors agree that Jackson currently suffers from a behavioral abnormality that 

makes it more likely he will engage in a predatory act of sexual violence. There was 

no contradictory expert testimony. Even though Jackson believes he won’t 

reoffend—which he also believed the first time he was released from prison—the 

experts believe he has yet to complete the extensive therapeutic treatment necessary 

to gain an ability to control the dangerous behaviors he exhibited due to his sexual 

deviancy and antisocial/psychopathic personality disorder. Jackson testified before 

the jury and presented his evidence and arguments to the contrary. In SVP cases, 

the jury is the sole judge of witness credibility and the weight to be given testimony, 

and we may not substitute our judgment for a jury's reasonable assessment of the 

evidence. Commitment of Stoddard, 619 S.W.3d at 676 n. 12 (citing Commitment of 

Johnson, 2019 WL 364475, at *3). 

Viewing the entire record in a neutral light, we conclude the evidence contrary 

to the verdict is not so significant that the factfinder could not have found beyond a 

reasonable doubt that Jackson is a sexually violent predator as defined by the SVP 
 –32– 

Act. See Commitment of Stoddard 619 S.W.3d at 678. Finding the evidence 

factually sufficient, we overrule Issue Three and affirm the trial court’s judgment. 

200519F.P05 

 

/Bonnie Lee Goldstein/

BONNIE LEE GOLDSTEIN 

JUSTICE 
 –33– 

S 

Court of Appeals 

Fifth District of Texas at Dallas 

JUDGMENT 

IN RE COMMITMENT OF 

VICTOR DEWAYNE JACKSON 

No. 05-20-00519-CV 

 On Appeal from the 291st Judicial 

District Court, Dallas County, Texas 

Trial Court Cause No. CV1970005. 

Opinion delivered by Justice 

Goldstein. Justices Molberg and 

Smith participating. 

 In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial 

court is AFFIRMED. 

Judgment entered this 12th day of August 2021.