Court Opinion

ID: 3145069
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:06:13.850239+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:25.491232
License: Public Domain

No. 2-09-0106   Filed: 8-17-10
______________________________________________________________________________

                                             IN THE

                              APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

                              SECOND DISTRICT
______________________________________________________________________________

In re COMMITMENT OF                    ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
MICHAEL DOHERTY                        ) of Lake County.
                                       )
                                       ) No. 03--MR--1457
                                       )
(The People of the State of Illinois,  ) Honorable
Petitioner-Appellee, v. Michael        ) Christopher R. Stride,
Doherty, Respondent-Appellant).        ) Judge, Presiding.
______________________________________________________________________________

       JUSTICE HUTCHINSON delivered the opinion of the court:

       In April 2008, following a jury trial, respondent, Michael Doherty, was adjudicated a sexually

violent person under the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act (the Act) (725 ILCS 207/1 et

seq. (West 2002)). The trial court ordered respondent committed for institutional care in a secure

facility. Respondent timely appeals, contending that the trial court abused its discretion when it

denied his motion in limine and (1) allowed the State's expert witnesses to testify regarding a

provisional diagnosis of paraphilia; (2) allowed Dr. Ray Quackenbush to testify regarding

respondent's employment at Toys "R" Us; and (3) allowed the State's expert witnesses to testify

about respondent's nonsexual criminal offenses. We affirm.

       On November 17, 2003, the State filed a petition seeking to detain respondent under the Act.

The petition alleged that respondent suffered from three mental disorders: (1) pedophilia, sexually

attracted to males and females, nonexclusive type; (2) paraphilia, not otherwise specified

(provisional); and (3) antisocial personality disorder. The petition further alleged that respondent
No. 2--09--0106

was dangerous to others because his mental disorders created a substantial probability that he would

engage in future acts of sexual violence. On January 15, 2004, following a hearing, the trial court

found probable cause to believe that respondent was a sexually violent person and ordered him

detained pending trial.

       On April 22, 2008, respondent filed a motion in limine, seeking, inter alia, that (1)

respondent's nonsexual criminal history, including traffic offenses, unlawful possession of a stolen

motor vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on a suspended license, battery,

disorderly conduct, and vehicular invasion, be excluded; (2) the State's expert witnesses be

prohibited from testifying about a provisional diagnosis of paraphilia, because a provisional

diagnosis was not a finding to a reasonable degree of psychological certainty that respondent suffered

from paraphilia; and (3) the State's expert witnesses be prohibited from testifying that respondent

worked at a Toys "R" Us store because neither of the State's expert witnesses previously expressed

an opinion regarding respondent's employment there.

       At the hearing on respondent's motion in limine, the State argued that respondent's entire

criminal history, including his nonsexual criminal history, was relevant in determining whether

respondent suffered from a mental disorder and was substantially likely to sexually reoffend. The

State argued that respondent's objections went to the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility,

and that respondent would be able to cross-examine the State's expert witnesses on the basis of their

opinions. The State further argued that experts could testify to opinions based on facts that were not

in evidence if those facts were reasonably relied on by experts in their particular field and were used

to explain the basis of the expert witnesses' opinions. The State concluded that respondent's entire

criminal history was relevant to the State's expert witnesses' risk assessment of respondent and was

thus admissible.

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       With respect to the admissibility of the provisional diagnosis of paraphilia, respondent argued

that the provisional diagnosis constituted a concession that there were not sufficient facts to permit

a witness to testify to a reasonable degree of psychological certainty that respondent suffered from

paraphilia. The State argued that the diagnosis was highly relevant in determining whether

respondent was substantially likely to sexually reoffend, which was an element required to establish

that respondent was a sexually violent person. The State explained that a diagnosis of potentially

multiple mental disorders was a factor relied on by the State's expert witnesses in assessing

respondent's risk of sexually reoffending and that a provisional diagnosis of paraphilia indicated a

wider pool of potential victims against whom respondent could offend.

       With respect to respondent's employment at Toys "R" Us, the State argued that respondent's

choice to work at that particular store was relevant to whether respondent was substantially likely

to reoffend. The State noted that respondent's employment at Toys "R" Us was mentioned in

Quackenbush's written report and that respondent had the opportunity to depose the doctor. The

State argued that respondent did not submit interrogatories regarding the evidence on which the State

intended to rely to show that respondent was substantially likely to reoffend. Parenthetically, we

note that respondent's employment at Toys "R" Us was mentioned in Dr. Marc Levinson's report, not

Quackenbush's report.

       The trial court found that respondent had the opportunity to use discovery methods to

uncover the basis of Quackenbush's opinion and that respondent's failure to propound a question

designed to elicit an answer regarding the basis of the opinion or the factors considered in evaluating

respondent did not render the testimony inadmissible. The trial court, however, allowed respondent

to question Quackenbush prior to his testimony. The trial court further determined that the State's

expert witnesses could testify regarding respondent's nonsexual criminal offenses, finding that

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provided that the State lay the proper foundation that the evidence was regularly relied on by experts

in their field, the information was sufficiently reliable and admissible. The trial court also stated that

it would give a limiting instruction informing the jury that the testimony was being offered to

illustrate what evidence the expert witnesses relied on in forming their opinions and not as

substantive evidence of the underlying offenses.

        The trial court next allowed the State to make an offer of proof regarding the proposed

testimony from Levinson regarding the provisional diagnosis of paraphilia. Levinson testified that,

although he did not diagnose respondent as suffering from paraphilia not otherwise specified,

respondent exhibited almost all of the criteria for such a diagnosis, which requires that, for at least

six months, an individual has had recurrent fantasies, urges, or behaviors involving some unusual

or deviant sexual behavior and that the individual has acted on these urges, demonstrating that the

sexual deviance has impaired the individual in an inappropriate manner. Levinson testified that,

based on the documents that he reviewed, two incidents indicated that respondent had engaged in

deviant sexual behavior: (1) respondent made sexually harassing telephone calls to women whose

names he obtained through his employment at a retail store, resulting in a conviction of disorderly

conduct; and (2) respondent entered a vehicle occupied by an adult woman, held her while he

attempted to start the vehicle, and tried to prevent her from leaving, resulting in a conviction of

vehicular invasion. Levinson testified that these incidents indicated that respondent had difficulty

controlling his sexual urges and maintaining his behavior within lawful limits and that the incidents

contributed to a diagnosis that respondent was at a higher risk to commit another sexually violent

act. Levinson opined that these offenses demonstrated that adult women were also potential victims

against whom respondent could offend. On cross-examination, Levinson acknowledged that he

could not say to a reasonable degree of psychiatric or psychological certainty that respondent

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suffered from the disorder of paraphilia. Upon examination by the trial court, Levinson agreed that

he could not find that a person was sexually violent based solely upon a provisional diagnosis.

       Following the State's offer of proof, the trial court stated that Levinson noted the limitations

of a provisional diagnosis but that the diagnosis was relevant because Levinson considered it when

forming his opinion. The trial court noted that respondent's objection related to the weight of the

evidence, not to its admissibility, and concluded that the probative value of the testimony outweighed

any prejudicial effect on respondent. The trial court denied respondent's motion in limine.

       At trial, the State presented the testimony of Levinson and Quackenbush. Levinson, a

licensed clinical psychologist, was qualified as an expert in clinical psychology and in the evaluation

of sexually violent persons. Levinson testified regarding his review of respondent's records and files,

as respondent had declined to participate in an interview. Levinson diagnosed respondent as

suffering from the following mental disorders: (1) pedophilia, attracted to both sexes, nonexclusive,

and nonincestuous type; (2) alcohol dependence in a controlled environment; (3) antisocial

personality disorder with borderline intellectual functioning; and (4) a provisional diagnosis of

paraphilia, not otherwise specified. Levinson also testified that, based on psychological testing and

actuarial tools, respondent's scores indicated that he was likely to commit further sexual offenses.

Levinson opined, based on his education, training, and experience, and based on his review of

respondent's records and the risk assessment tools, that it was substantially probable that respondent

will commit future acts of sexual violence.

       Quackenbush, a licensed clinical psychologist and an expert in the field of forensic

evaluations of sexually violent persons and sex offender treatment, testified that he conducted a

document review of respondent's master file from the Department of Corrections, he interviewed

respondent on February 19, 2004, and he submitted a written report on February 27, 2004.

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Quackenbush submitted updated written reports in 2006 and 2007. Quackenbush diagnosed

respondent as suffering from the following mental disorders: (1) pedophilia, nonincestuous type,

nonexclusive; (2) a provisional diagnosis of paraphilia, not otherwise specified; (3) alcohol abuse

in a controlled environment; and (4) antisocial personality disorder. Based on his review of

respondent's records and scores on the psychological and actuarial testing, Quackenbush opined that

respondent was substantially likely to sexually reoffend.

       On April 23, 2008, following arguments of the parties, the jury adjudicated respondent a

sexually violent person. Respondent filed a posttrial motion, which the trial court denied. The trial

court committed respondent to the Department of Human Services, and respondent filed a timely

notice of appeal.

       Respondent's principal contention is that the trial court abused its discretion when it denied

respondent's motion in limine. In support of his contention, respondent challenges three of the trial

court's decisions: (1) permitting the State's expert witnesses to testify regarding a provisional

diagnosis of paraphilia; (2) allowing Quackenbush to testify regarding respondent's employment at

Toys "R" Us; and (3) allowing the State's expert witnesses to testify about respondent's nonsexual

criminal offenses. Respondent concludes that the trial court's rulings constituted an abuse of

discretion and requests reversal of the trial court's judgment.

       The Act mandates that a person committed pursuant to its provisions have a mental disorder

that "creates a substantial probability that he or she will engage in acts of sexual violence." 725

ILCS 207/15(b)(5) (West 2002). Pursuant to the Act, if, after a trial (725 ILCS 207/35 (West 2002)),

the court or jury finds that the person is sexually violent, "the court shall order the person to be

committed to the custody of the Department for control, care and treatment until such time as the

person is no longer a sexually violent person." 725 ILCS 207/40(a) (West 2002). If the court or jury

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is not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is a sexually violent person, then the court

shall dismiss the petition and direct the release of the person, unless he or she is under some other

lawful restriction. 725 ILCS 207/35(f) (West 2002).

        Generally, evidentiary motions, such as motions in limine, are directed to the trial court's

discretion, and reviewing courts will not disturb a trial court's evidentiary ruling absent an abuse of

discretion. People v. Harvey, 211 Ill. 2d 368, 392 (2004), citing People v. Jackson, 182 Ill. 2d 30,

78-79 (1998). "An abuse of discretion will be found only where the trial court's ruling is arbitrary,

fanciful, unreasonable, or where no reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial

court." People v. Hall, 195 Ill. 2d 1, 20 (2000); see also People v. Swanson, 335 Ill. App. 3d 117,

125 (2002), citing People v. Illgen, 145 Ill. 2d 353, 364 (1991).

        With respect to the trial court's admission of an expert witness's scientific testimony, our

supreme court held that the decision as to whether an expert scientific witness is qualified to testify

in a subject area, and whether the proffered testimony is relevant in a particular case, remains in the

sound discretion of the trial court. In re Commitment of Simons, 213 Ill. 2d 523, 530-31 (2004).

If the trial court conducts a Frye analysis and that analysis is challenged on appeal, our review is de

novo. See Simons, 213 Ill. 2d at 530-31 (explaining the dual standard of review). In the current

matter, respondent's challenges are directed at the trial court's evidentiary decisions; therefore, we

will review to determine whether an abuse of the trial court's discretion occurred. See Simons, 213
Ill. 2d at 530; Harvey, 211 Ill. 2d at 392.

        Reviewing courts have consistently held that in formulating an opinion an expert may rely

on reports made by others, as long as other experts in the field reasonably rely on such materials.

See Swanson, 335 Ill. App. 3d at 125, citing People v. Anderson, 113 Ill. 2d 1, 7 (1986). Although

reports made by others are not substantively admissible, an expert witness is nonetheless allowed

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to reveal the contents of the materials upon which the expert has reasonably relied to explain the

basis of his or her opinion. Swanson, 335 Ill. App. 3d at 125, citing Anderson, 113 Ill. 2d at 9.

Finally, the trial court's function is to weigh the probative value and potential prejudicial effect of

evidence, and the decision of the trial court will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion.

People v. Winterhalter, 313 Ill. App. 3d 972, 978 (2000), citing People v. Hobley, 159 Ill. 2d 272,

317 (1994).

       Respondent first argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it permitted the State's

witnesses to testify regarding a provisional diagnosis of paraphilia. Respondent argues that

testimony regarding a provisional diagnosis of a mental disorder is not testimony of a diagnosis of

a mental disorder. Respondent argues that the Act does not contemplate evidence that he could

possibly suffer from a mental disorder and that therefore the admission of evidence pertaining to a

provisional diagnosis should have been barred.

       The State counters that the provisional diagnosis was probative of an element that it was

required to prove to show that respondent was a sexually violent person under the Act, that is, that

respondent was substantially likely to sexually reoffend. The State's expert witnesses relied on this

information in forming their diagnoses of respondent. Thus, the State concludes, the evidence was

relevant and appropriate for the trial court to admit.

       We agree with the State's responses and determine that the trial court did not abuse its

discretion when it allowed Quackenbush and Levinson to testify regarding the provisional diagnosis

of paraphilia. Both doctors testified to the information surrounding the provisional diagnosis of

paraphilia. Before they did so, however, the trial court had the State present an offer of proof

regarding the proposed testimony from Levinson. Levinson testified regarding two specific instances

in which respondent engaged in deviant sexual behavior, and he stated that he relied upon these

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instances in evaluating respondent and reaching his opinion of a provisional diagnosis. An expert

witness may properly testify to facts upon which her or his opinion is based (In re Detention of Isbell,

333 Ill. App. 3d 906, 913 (2002)), and we therefore find nothing improper in Levinson's or

Quackenbush's testimony in this regard. Moreover, the record reflects that, prior to Levinson's and

Quackenbush's testimony, the trial court admonished the jury regarding the limited purpose of the

testimony. There is a strong presumption that jurors follow the instructions given by the court

(People v. Harris, 288 Ill. App. 3d 597, 605 (1997)), and nothing in the record rebuts that

presumption, either from trial or from the trial court's instructions to the jury. Under these

circumstances, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it allowed the

doctors to testify regarding the provisional diagnosis of paraphilia. See Isbell, 333 Ill. App. 3d at 914

(finding that, even absent a limiting instruction, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing

State's expert witnesses to testify about facts underlying the respondent's sexual crimes where the

experts testified that they relied upon those facts in forming their opinions).

        Respondent next argues that the trial court abused its discretion when it permitted an expert

witness to testify to an opinion that was not disclosed in discovery. We note that, in the argument

portion of his brief, respondent does not identify which witness provided the testimony at issue; does

not identify the opinion that was undisclosed; does not explain how the "nature of the testimony, as

noted herein," was extremely prejudicial; and fails to cite to any page in the record to support his

argument (see 210 Ill. 2d R. 341(h)(7) (providing that appellate argument must include citation to

the authorities and the pages of the record relied on; points not argued are forfeited)). Respondent

concludes that "the testimony should have been barred" and that "the failure of the trial court to limit

the testimony of the expert witness to that which had been previously disclosed was error."

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       The State, however, identifies Quackenbush as the expert witness and the testimony at issue,

that respondent worked at Toys "R" Us to select future victims against whom he could offend. The

State counters that the testimony was not an opinion required to be disclosed under Supreme Court

Rule 213(f)(2) (210 Ill. 2d R. 213(f)(2)). Rather, it was a factual basis upon which Quackenbush

relied in reaching his opinion that it was substantially probable that respondent would engage in

future acts of sexual violence. The State also counters that respondent has not shown that he was

prejudiced by the admission of this evidence.

       Based on respondent's aforementioned violation of Rule 341(h)(7), specifically his failure

to develop his argument, he has forfeited this issue. See In re Detention of Lieberman, 379 Ill. App.
3d 585, 607 (2007), citing Elder v. Bryant, 324 Ill. App. 3d 526, 533 (2001) (stating that the failure

to properly present an issue or cite to pages of the record relied upon violates Rule 341(h)(7) and

results in forfeiture of contention on appeal). Forfeiture notwithstanding, respondent's contention

lacks substantive merit. See People v. Harris, 384 Ill. App. 3d 551, 560-61 (2008) (summarily

addressing the issue, despite the appellant's failure to cite relevant authority). Our review of the

record reflects no abuse of discretion in the trial court's determination that respondent's employment

at Toys "R" Us had been disclosed, that respondent had been given the opportunity to utilize

discovery to probe its significance, and that, therefore, the evidence was admissible. The trial court

also allowed respondent to question Quackenbush prior to his testimony, to "cure" any discovery

violation. We conclude that no abuse of the trial court's discretion occurred.

       Respondent's third argument is that the trial court abused its discretion when it permitted

expert witnesses to testify regarding nonsexual crimes. Respondent argues that the evidence of

nonsexual crimes was not relevant and that, further, because there was admissible evidence regarding

sexual offenses, the evidence of nonsexual crimes was more prejudicial than probative. Respondent

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concludes that the evidence of nonsexual crimes was unrelated to whether he suffered from a mental

disorder or whether it was substantially probable that he would commit further acts of sexual

violence. Respondent further argues that public policy should prohibit courts from allowing expert

witnesses to claim that all bad conduct is relevant to their opinions.

        The State counters that the evidence was relevant to whether respondent was a sexually

violent person and that the prejudicial effect of the testimony did not substantially outweigh its

probative value. The State asserts that respondent's nonsexual criminal history was properly

admitted because (1) it was material to the State's burden of proof on essential issues, that is, whether

respondent suffered from pedophilia and antisocial personality disorder and was likely to engage in

predatory acts of sexual violence in the future; and (2) the State's expert witnesses relied on this

evidence in forming their opinions. The State also counters that section 35(b) of the Act (725 ILCS

207/35(b) (West 2002)) authorizes the admission of this evidence at trial.

        We agree with the State and conclude that the trial court's ruling permitting the State's expert

witnesses to testify regarding respondent's nonsexual crimes was not an abuse of discretion. First,

we note that section 35(b) of the Act allows the State to "introduce evidence of the commission by

the respondent of any number of crimes together with whatever punishments, if any, were imposed."

725 ILCS 207/35(b) (West 2002). Therefore, the Act authorizes the admission of respondent's

criminal history, sexual or nonsexual. Second, the evidence of respondent's criminal history,

including the nonsexual offenses, was relevant in assessing respondent's judgment and the extent to

which respondent respected or followed the law or restrictions imposed on him by a prior conviction.

Further, in allowing the evidence, the trial court required the State to lay a proper foundation that the

evidence was regularly relied on by experts in their field in forming opinions. See Swanson, 335 Ill.

App. 3d at 125 (allowing an expert to rely on reports made by others to formulate an opinion as long

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as other experts in the field reasonably rely on such materials). Third, the trial court's ruling reflected

a thoughtful consideration of the probative value of the evidence as well as its prejudicial effect on

respondent. See Winterhalter, 313 Ill. App. 3d at 978 (requiring the trial court to weigh the probative

value and potential prejudicial effect of evidence). Toward that end, the trial court specifically stated

that it would give a limiting instruction informing the jury that the testimony was being offered to

illustrate what evidence the expert witnesses relied on in forming their opinions and not as

substantive evidence of the underlying offenses. The trial court also discussed the matter during the

jury instructions conference and instructed the jury accordingly. We conclude that no abuse of the

trial court's discretion occurred.

        For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Lake County.

        Affirmed.

        ZENOFF, P.J., and McLAREN, J., concur.

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