Opinion ID: 844231
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Petitioner's Relationships with Others

Text: Regarding the molestation of his daughter, in 2001 petitioner admitted he had touched her inappropriately but denied that intercourse occurred. In 2005, however, he denied the allegation entirely, claiming he had wandered into his daughter's room by mistake. A 2006 psychological report observed that petitioner found her accusations inexplicable. Petitioner had a flat affect when discussing the allegations, which could be a sign of the schizoid tendencies noted in some previous evaluations. When questioned by the Board at his 2006 parole hearing about whether he had a problem in the way he treated women, petitioner replied, Well, no I don't. I don't know how to say that I don't have a problem now. I didn't have aI guess I had a problem then but I don't know how to put it into pictures or words. I justit was one of those things I didn't quite understand, I guess. Not having a thorough idea of how stupid I was being, how dumb I was being. Petitioner's counsel advised him not to answer when he was asked to explain his understanding of why he had committed the murder and how he was different today. The 2004 psychological evaluation stated that the atypical, detached, almost schizoid quality to some of petitioner's earlier relationships was suggestive of early trauma that petitioner chose not to discuss. The report further noted that petitioner had a reduced ability to achieve self-awareness and develop relationships with others. Petitioner's mother had deserted the family when he was nine, and he was left to care for his six younger siblings during his father's extended absences from the home. The probation report and a 1997 CDCR report stated that petitioner's father had physically abused him. He denied this in 2004, but the 2009 report prepared by his psychologist related petitioner's description of his father as physically abusive. At his 2006 parole hearing, it emerged that petitioner had no contact with his siblings, daughters, or first wife. In 2005 he had married a second cousin, who was herself a recovering alcoholic. The psychologist who prepared an evaluation in 2005 confirmed the earlier finding that there was a schizoid quality to petitioner's interpersonal relationships, and noted that he seemed to have limited . . . insight into his antisocial behavior and the association between his alcohol abuse and his history of domestic violence. The report stated that there appears to be little potential benefit at this point in his development to attempt to modify this [character-based] structure. The psychologist was concerned about petitioner's plan to reside with his new wife, given his history of domestic violence, but nevertheless concluded that the risk he would resume this pattern was probably low if he abstained from alcohol. The report recommended random alcohol testing, a mandatory relapse prevention program, and a community-based domestic violence program as conditions of parole. Indeed, all the CDCR psychological reports, from 1997 until 2009, found that petitioner would probably pose a low risk of threat to the public if released on parole, so long as he refrained from using alcohol. His behavior in prison has been uniformly exemplary. He has completed numerous rehabilitation programs. He has repeatedly been commended by prison staff for his work, conduct, and reform efforts. Petitioner had a stable employment history before he murdered his wife. He worked for San Diego Gas & Electric Company as an electrician and fabricator for seven years, owned his own welding business, and for the 13 years preceding the murder was employed by Bechtel Corporation as a supervisor.