Opinion ID: 6110099
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: sufficient evidence existed to find mr. grado was an svp

Text: Mr. Grado finally argues there was insufficient evidence to find he was an SVP because there was insufficient evidence he suffered from a mental abnormality and is more likely than not to commit a future act of sexual predatory violence unless confined to a secure facility. He is incorrect. Under section 632.480(5), to commit someone to the custody of the Department of Mental Health as a sexually violent predator, the state must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent: (1) has committed a sexually violent offense; (2) suffers from a mental abnormality; and (3) this mental abnormality 'makes the person more likely than not to engage in predatory acts of violence if not confined in a secure facility.'  Kirk, 520 S.W.3d at 448-49 . In reviewing a claim there is insufficient evidence to support an SVP determination, The Court views the evidence in a light most favorable to the jury verdict, disregarding all contrary evidence and inferences, and determines whether the evidence was sufficient for twelve reasonable jurors to have believed beyond a reasonable doubt that [respondent] is an SVP. Murrell, 215 S.W.3d at 106 . The jury is permitted to draw such reasonable inferences from the evidence as the evidence will permit and may believe or disbelieve all, part, or none of the testimony of any witness. State v. Hineman, 14 S.W.3d 924 , 927 (Mo. banc 1999) .
Under section 632.480,  'mental abnormality' is (1) a congenital or acquired condition; (2) affecting the emotional or volitional capacity; (3) that predisposes the person to commit sexually violent offenses; (4) in a degree that causes the individual serious difficulty controlling his behavior. Murrell, 215 S.W.3d at 106 . Mr. Grado alleges there was insufficient evidence he met the criteria for pedophilic disorder under the DSM-V and, therefore, insufficient evidence upon which the jury could find he suffered from a mental abnormality. The State alleged there was sufficient evidence to show he had pedophilic disorder under the DSM-V. That authority defines a pedophilic disorder as a showing of: A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger). B. The individual has acted on these sexual urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty. C. The individual is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A. American Psychiatric Ass'n, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 697 (5th ed. 2013) (DSM-V). 10 In diagnosing Mr. Grado with pedophilic disorder as his mental abnormality, Dr. Witcher testified Mr. Grado had sexual urges or fantasies, many of which were acted upon, from the age of 14 through the time of trial at age 23. She testified Mr. Grado, at age 15, offended against a child between the ages of eight and ten, and she believed Mr. Grado continued to offend against that same child when Mr. Grado turned 16 years old. He did the same thing two years later when he committed his index offense at age 18, and the jury also heard testimony Mr. Grado continued to have sexual urges while serving his prison sentence and up until the time of trial at age 23. Further, Dr. Witcher specifically testified that in reviewing Mr. Grado's records and reports, he was bothered by his behavior and had the thoughts going: I don't think this is right. I feel kind of bad about this. I'm not sure this is okay, which causes distress. During Mr. Grado's self-evaluation, Dr. Witcher stated Mr. Grado was able to at least retrospectively identify feelings of guilt as they related to his child victims, but nevertheless continued the sexual predatory behavior anyways. Based on her review of Mr. Grado's records and interviews with him, Dr. Witcher testified his pedophilic disorder rose to the level of a mental abnormality because it, A, resulted in a sexually violent offense; and then, B, it's been shown to affect his ability to control his behavior.  Mr. Grado alleges any acts occurring before the age of 16 cannot be relied on and the evidence was vague as to his and the child's ages when he offended. He also argues the State failed to prove a direct link showing the acts were caused by pedophilic urges or that his pedophilic urges caused marked distress or interpersonal difficulty, rather than simply being acts of adolescent sexual exploration. Mr. Grado's arguments ignore the fact the jury is permitted to draw such reasonable inferences from the evidence as the evidence will permit. Hineman, 14 S.W.3d at 927 . They also overlook that once opinion testimony has been admitted, as any other evidence, it may be relied upon for purposes of determining the submissibility of the case. Washington by Washington v. Barnes Hosp., 897 S.W.2d 611 , 616 (Mo. banc 1995) . The natural probative effect of this testimony is a consideration for the jury. Id. Absent a confession, there seldom will be direct evidence showing the acts were caused by pedophilic urges or that his pedophilic urges caused distress. Here, the jury heard Mr. Grado was 16 when he offended against a victim five years younger. Two years later he did the same thing again. He continued to have pedophilic urges up until the time of trial, as well as another philia, and the jury heard these sexual urges and behaviors caused him distress. It also heard testimony that based on Mr. Grado's prior behavior, his pedophilic disorder predisposed him to sexually violent behavior, which he engaged in, and was unsure he could control. Based on this evidence and the reasonable inferences it supports, there was sufficient evidence for a reasonable juror to find he met the criteria for pedophilic disorder and suffered from a mental abnormality. Although Mr. Grado attacked the credibility of the evidence and testimony, these were issues for the jury and it was persuaded otherwise.
Next, Mr. Grado asserts there was insufficient evidence that because of his mental abnormality he was more likely than not to commit a future act of sexual predatory violence unless confined to a secure facility, noting that no single predictive test indicated a more than 50 percent likelihood he would reoffend. But the jury was entitled to look at the evidence as a whole. The jury heard Dr. Witcher's expert opinion that Mr. Grado was more likely to do so unless confined. She extensively testified regarding the basis for her opinion. That basis included not just Mr. Grado's score on various diagnostic criteria, but also his pedophilic disorder and zoophilia diagnoses, prior sexual history, sexual impulsivity and promiscuity, emotional congruence with children, strong manipulation techniques, and inability to control his sexual interactions with animals. She testified these factors and abnormalities increased his risk to reoffend. While Mr. Grado's counsel could and did point out weaknesses in Dr. Witcher's testimony, once sufficient evidence was admitted and her expert opinion offered, it was for the jury to determine what evidence to believe. Id. The evidence was sufficient to support the jury's finding that because of Mr. Grado's mental abnormality, he was more likely than not to commit a future predatory act of sexual violence if not confined to a secure facility.