Court Opinion

ID: 3165021
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-23 01:03:08.01036+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:58:13.882161
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/22/15 P. v. Rains CA5

                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                       FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,
                                                                                           F067673
         Plaintiff and Respondent,
                                                                           (Super. Ct. No. 04CRSP677246)
                   v.

JONATHAN RAINS,                                                                          OPINION
         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. James
Petrucelli, Judge.
         Rudy Kraft, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney
General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, and Julie A. Hokans, Deputy
Attorney General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-
                                      BACKGROUND
       On October 28, 1977, appellant Jonathan Rains was convicted of committing a
lewd or lascivious act on and participating in oral copulation with a child under the age of
14 (Pen. Code, §§ 288, 288a), for which he received an indeterminate sentence. On
August 5, 1983, he was convicted on two counts of participating in oral copulation with a
child under the age of 14 (id., § 288a), for which he received a determinate sentence.
       On May 27, 1997, appellant was committed to the custody of the Department of
Mental Health (DMH) pursuant to the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA), codified
at Welfare and Institutions Code section 6600 et seq.1 Between 1999 and 2005, the
district attorney petitioned to extend his commitment as a sexually violent predator (SVP)
four times.2
       On November 7, 2006, California voters approved Proposition 83, also known as
“The Sexual Predator Punishment and Control Act: Jessica’s Law,” which amended the
SVPA. (People v. McKee (2010) 47 Cal. 4th 1172, 1186 (McKee I).) Pursuant to
Proposition 83, “an individual SVP’s commitment term is indeterminate, rather than for a
two-year term as in the previous version of the [SVPA].” (McKee I, supra, at p. 1187.)
Furthermore, an SVP can only be released conditionally or unconditionally if (1) “the
DMH authorizes a petition for release and the state does not oppose it or fails to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that the individual still meets the definition of an SVP” (ibid.);

1       Unless otherwise indicated, subsequent statutory citations refer to the Welfare and
Institutions Code.
2      As originally enacted in 1995, section 6604 of the SVPA provided:
       “If the court or jury determines that the person is a[n] [SVP], the person
       shall be committed for two years … and the person shall not be kept in
       actual custody longer than two years unless a subsequent extended
       commitment is obtained from the court incident to the filing of a new
       petition for commitment ….” (Stats. 1995, ch. 763, § 3.)

                                             2.
or (2) “the individual, petitioning the court on his own, is able to bear the burden of
proving by a preponderance of the evidence that he is no longer an SVP” (ibid.).3
       On April 11, 2007, the district attorney petitioned to commit appellant for an
indeterminate term. On July 15, 2013, a commitment trial commenced. On July 16,
2013, the prosecution called appellant to the stand to testify. No objection was raised.
On July 19, 2013, the jury found he was an SVP and the superior court committed him to
the custody of the Department of State Hospitals (DSH).4
                                           ISSUES
       Appellant presents four contentions on appeal. First, as amended by Proposition
83, the SVPA violated his right to equal protection under the law.5 Second, as amended
by Proposition 83, the SVPA violated the due process, ex post facto, and double jeopardy
provisions of the California and United States Constitutions. Third, recent amendments
to the SVPA enacted in 2013 rendered the statute unconstitutional. Finally, the superior
court deprived appellant of his right to equal protection by allowing the prosecution to
call him as a witness at the commitment trial.

3      In McKee I, the Supreme Court observed “the method of petitioning the court for
release and proving fitness to be released, which under the former [SVPA] had been the
way an SVP could cut short his two-year commitment, now becomes the only means of
being released from an indefinite commitment when the DMH does not support release.”
(McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at pp. 1187-1188.)
4      The DMH was later renamed the DSH. (§ 4000, as amended by Stats. 2012,
ch. 24, § 63.)
5       “The constitutional guaranty of equal protection of the laws has been judicially
defined to mean that no person or class of persons shall be denied the same protection of
the laws which is enjoyed by other persons or other classes in like circumstances in their
lives, liberty[,] and property and in their pursuit of happiness.” (People v. Romo (1975)
14 Cal. 3d 189, 196.)

                                             3.
                                       DISCUSSION

I.     The SVPA, as amended by Proposition 83, did not violate appellant’s
       right to equal protection under the law.
       In McKee I, the California Supreme Court considered, inter alia, an equal
protection challenge to the SVPA in the wake of Proposition 83. (See McKee I, supra, 47
Cal.4th at pp. 1184, 1196-1211.) It recognized an SVP is committed indefinitely and
generally bears the burden of proving his or her fitness to be released under the foregoing
statute. (Id. at pp. 1187-1188, 1202.) By contrast, pursuant to the Mentally Disordered
Offender Act (MDOA), codified at Penal Code section 2960 et seq., a mentally
disordered offender (MDO) is committed for a one-year period and thereafter has the
right to be released unless the state proves beyond a reasonable doubt he or she should be
recommitted for another year. (McKee I, supra, at pp. 1200-1202.) Given both SVP’s
and MDO’s (1) suffer from mental disorders rendering them dangerous to others,
(2) have been convicted of serious or violent felonies, and (3) have been civilly
committed to the DMH for treatment of their disorders following the end of their prison
terms, the Supreme Court concluded the groups are similarly situated. (Id. at p. 1203.)
As a result, the state must justify why the terms of civil commitment are “substantially
less favorable for [SVP’s] than [MDO’s.]” (Ibid.) The high court detailed:

       “[I]mposing on one group an indefinite commitment and the burden of
       proving they should not be committed, when the other group is subject to
       short-term commitment renewable only if the People prove periodically
       that continuing commitment is justified beyond a reasonable doubt, raises a
       substantial equal protection question that calls for some justification by the
       People.… [S]tandards and burdens of proof represent societal
       determinations of who should bear the risk that a court’s or jury’s judgment
       will be in error. [Citation.] Standards and burdens of proof, like other due
       process protections afforded both criminal defendants and persons subject
       to involuntary commitment, also balance the individual’s fundamental
       liberty interest in not being incarcerated or involuntarily confined with the
       state’s compelling interest in protecting society from dangerous persons, in
       punishing criminal behavior in the case of criminal defendants, and in
       treating mental illness in the case of civil committees. Because MDO’s and

                                             4.
       SVP’s have the same interest at stake—the loss of liberty through
       involuntary civil commitment—it must be the case that when society varies
       the standard and burden of proof for SVP’s in the manner in which
       Proposition 83 did, it does so because of the belief that the risks involved
       with erroneously freeing SVP’s from their commitment are significantly
       greater than the risks involved with freeing MDO’s. [Citation.] A
       substantial question is raised about the basis for this belief.” (McKee I,
       supra, 47 Cal.4th at pp. 1203-1204, fn. omitted.)
The high court also concluded SVP’s and persons adjudged not guilty by reason of
insanity (NGI’s) are similarly situated. (McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 1207.) Like
SVP’s, NGI’s suffer from severe mental disorders, have committed criminal acts, and
have been civilly committed for treatment. (Ibid.) However, pursuant to Penal Code
section 1026.5, NGI’s “may not be in civil custody longer than the maximum state prison
term to which they could have been sentenced for the underlying offense … unless at the
end of that period the district attorney extends the commitment for two years by proving
in a jury trial beyond a reasonable doubt that the person presents a substantial danger of
physical harm to others because of a mental disease, defect, or disorder.” (McKee I,
supra, at p. 1207, citations omitted.) “[A]s with MDO’s, the People have not yet carried
their burden of justifying the differences between the SVP and NGI commitment
statutes.” (Ibid.)
       The Supreme Court did not decide whether the state had failed to justify the
disparate treatment of SVP’s. Instead, it remanded the matter to the superior court to
afford the state the opportunity to make the appropriate showing. (McKee I, supra, 47
Cal.4th at pp. 1207-1209.) In doing so, the high court stressed “different classes of
individuals civilly committed need not be treated identically” (id. at p. 1210), “mere
disagreement among experts will not suffice to overturn the Proposition 83 amendments”
(ibid.), and “[t]he trial court must determine whether the legislative distinctions in classes

                                              5.
of persons subject to civil commitment are reasonable and factually based—not whether
they are incontrovertible or uncontroversial” (id. at pp. 1210-1211).6

6      In McKee I, the Supreme Court relied heavily on In re Moye (1978) 22 Cal. 3d 457
(Moye). (See McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at pp. 1184, 1196-1199, 1204, 1207-1209.) In
Moye, the question was whether NGI’s who had been committed for the maximum term
provided for the underlying offense may be held in excess of that term under a statutory
scheme requiring them to prove by a preponderance of the evidence they were no longer
a danger to the health and safety of themselves or others. (See Moye, supra, at pp. 460,
462-463.) The high court concluded NGI’s “have been unfairly selected and required to
face indefinite confinement until they can establish their own fitness for release.” (Id. at
p. 463.) It reasoned:
       “Perhaps the most glaring example of inequality appears when we examine
       the treatment afforded mentally disordered sex offenders (MDSO[’]s).
       MDSO[’]s comprise a class of individuals quite similar to … [NGI’s].
       Both classes … involve persons who initially have been found to have
       committed a criminal act, but whose mental condition warrants a period of
       confinement for treatment in a state institution, in lieu of criminal
       punishment.... [¶] … [¶]
              “… [T]he preconditions to both commitments are similar: the initial
       commitment follows commission of a criminal act and is based upon a
       finding of a mental disorder which might present a danger to others. The
       MDSO can be confined for only a limited period, measured by the
       maximum term for the underlying offense, unless thereafter the People (or
       other committing authority) can establish grounds for an extended
       commitment. In contrast, [NGI’s] face indefinite, lifetime confinement
       unless they can prove that their sanity has been restored. [¶] … [¶]
               “Because [an NGI]’s personal liberty is at stake, … the applicable
       standard for measuring the validity of the statutory scheme now before us
       requires application of the strict scrutiny standard of equal protection
       analysis. Accordingly, the state must establish both that it has a
       ‘compelling interest’ which justifies the challenged procedure and that the
       distinctions drawn by the procedure are necessary to further that interest.
       [Citation.] At the very least, persons similarly situated must receive like
       treatment under the law. [Citation.] As we have noted, by reason of their
       commission of a prior criminal act and the finding of a mental disorder
       justifying the initial commitment, persons committed as MDSO[’]s are
       ‘similarly situated’ with [NGI’s].” (Moye, supra, 22 Cal.3d at pp. 463-466;
       see McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 1196 [former Mentally Disordered Sex
       Offender Act is the forerunner of the SVPA].)

                                             6.
       Upon remand, the superior court held a 21-day evidentiary hearing and found the
state met its burden of justifying disparate treatment of SVP’s. (People v. McKee (2012)
207 Cal. App. 4th 1325, 1330 (McKee II).) On appeal, Division One of the Fourth District
Court of Appeal applied the strict scrutiny standard, which had been used by the superior
court (id. at pp. 1332, 1335), reviewed the superior court’s determination de novo (id. at
pp. 1338-1339), and “conclude[d] the trial court correctly found the People presented
substantial evidence to support a reasonable perception by the electorate that SVP’s
present a substantially greater danger to society than do MDO’s or NGI’s, and therefore
the disparate treatment of SVP’s … is necessary to further the People’s compelling
interests of public safety and humane treatment of the mentally disordered” (id. at
pp. 1330-1331). Specifically, the appellate court deemed significant the evidence
demonstrating “the inherent nature of the SVP’s mental disorder makes recidivism
significantly more likely for SVP’s as a class than for MDO’s and NGI’s” (id. at
p. 1340), “victims of sex offenses suffer unique and, in general, greater trauma than
victims of nonsex offenses” (id. at p. 1342), and “SVP’s are significantly different from
MDO’s and NGI’s diagnostically and in treatment” (id. at p. 1344). (Accord, id. at
p. 1347.)
       The Supreme Court denied review of McKee II on October 10, 2012 (S204503).
Subsequent appellate court opinions have followed McKee II. (People v. Kisling (2014)
223 Cal. App. 4th 544, 547-548 [Third Dist.]; People v. McDonald (2013) 214
Cal. App. 4th 1367, 1371, 1376-1382 [Fourth Dist., Div. Three]; People v. Landau (2013)
214 Cal. App. 4th 1, 47-48 [Fourth Dist., Div. Three]; People v. McCloud (2013) 213
Cal. App. 4th 1076, 1078-1079, 1085-1086 [First Dist., Div. Two]; People v. McKnight
(2012) 212 Cal. App. 4th 860, 862-864 [First Dist., Div. Three].) We agreed with these
opinions in an earlier case. (People v. Gray (2014) 229 Cal. App. 4th 285, 291 (Gray).)
       Nonetheless, appellant argues the Proposition 83 version of the SVPA violated his
right to equal protection under the law. We reject this claim. Though we are not bound

                                             7.
by the opinions of other appellate districts, we ordinarily follow them absent good cause
to disagree so as to advance stability and predictability in the law. (People v. Kim (2011)
193 Cal. App. 4th 836, 847.) Here, as before (Gray, supra, 229 Cal.App.4th at pp. 291-
292), we find no reason to deviate from McKee II’s holding. Moreover, to disregard
McKee II would undermine “the Supreme Court[’s] inten[t] for the remanded
proceedings … to be, as a matter of law, dispositive in all cases on the issue of whether
the disparate treatment between SVP’s and MDO’s/NGI’s was justifiable ….” (People v.
Kisling, supra, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 548.)

II.    The SVPA, as amended by Proposition 83, did not violate the due
       process, ex post facto, and double jeopardy provisions of the California
       and United States Constitutions.
       Appellant contends the indeterminate commitment term added to the SVPA by
Proposition 83 violated the due process, ex post facto, and double jeopardy provisions of
the California and United States Constitutions. He concedes, however, the Supreme
Court rejected these arguments in McKee I. (See McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at pp. 1184,
1188-1195; see also Gray, supra, 229 Cal.App.4th at p. 288, fn. 12.) We are bound by
the doctrine of stare decisis to follow McKee I. (Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court
(1962) 57 Cal. 2d 450, 455.)

III.   Appellant’s claim the 2013 amendments to the SVPA rendered the
       statute unconstitutional is not justiciable.
       Next, appellant asserts recent amendments to the SVPA “cause the [SVPA] now to
violate [his] due process rights under the analysis of the California Supreme Court in
McKee I.” (Some capitalization omitted.) Enacted August 27, 2013, and effective
January 1, 2014, these amendments added section 6604.9 and revised sections 6605 and
6608, all of which relate to conditional release and/or unconditional release. (Stats. 2013,
ch. 182, §§ 1-3.)

                                              8.
       “We are concerned with the constitutionality of the SVPA as it existed when
appellant was adjudged an SVP, not the statutory scheme as it may or may not be applied
to appellant in the future.” (Gray, supra, 229 Cal.App.4th at p. 292; see Younger v.
Superior Court (1978) 21 Cal. 3d 102, 119 [“‘The rendering of advisory opinions falls
within neither the functions nor the jurisdiction of this court.’”].) Thus, we decline to
address this issue since it pertains to changes to the SVPA that did not go into effect until
well after the date of appellant’s commitment.7

IV.    The issue of whether SVP’s are entitled to a right not to testify at
       commitment proceedings on the grounds of equal protection shall be
       determined by the superior court on remand.
       For the first time on appeal, appellant contends the superior court deprived him of
his right to equal protection under the law by allowing the prosecution to call him as a
trial witness. His argument rests on two propositions. First, in view of Hudec v. Superior
Court (2015) 60 Cal. 4th 815 (Hudec), NGI’s are statutorily exempted from testifying
against themselves in commitment proceedings. Second, SVP’s are similarly situated to
NGI’s and therefore entitled to the same privilege.
       At the outset, the Attorney General claims appellant forfeited the issue by failing
to object below. We exercise our discretion to consider the matter. At the time of
appellant’s commitment, case law held the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee against
compulsory self-incrimination did not apply in SVPA proceedings. (People v. Allen
(2008) 44 Cal. 4th 843, 860, citing Allen v. Illinois (1986) 478 U.S. 364, 375; People v.
Leonard (2000) 78 Cal. App. 4th 776.) Also, with respect to appellant’s foregoing
argument, authority was still split on the issue of whether NGI’s could invoke a statutory

7       Appellant insists this issue is ripe for review because of the reliance placed by
McKee I on the availability of relief under then-section 6608. We are not swayed. The
fact remains appellant had been adjudged an SVP before the 2013 amendments took
effect and these amendments may or may not be applied to him in the future. (Gray,
supra, 229 Cal.App.4th at p. 292, fn. 17.)

                                             9.
guarantee against self-incrimination. (Compare People v. Haynie (2004) 116
Cal. App. 4th 1224, 1225-1226 [plain language of Pen. Code, § 1026.5, subd. (b)(7), bars
prosecution from questioning NGI’s at commitment proceedings] with People v. Lopez
(2006) 137 Cal. App. 4th 1099, 1116 [Pen. Code, § 1026.5, subd. (b)(7), did not intend to
afford committees the right not to testify].) A unanimous Supreme Court only recently
resolved this conflict in Hudec, holding NGI’s indeed have a statutory right not to testify
at commitment proceedings. (Hudec, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 818, 826-832; see id. at
p. 832, fn. 5 [expressly disapproving People v. Lopez, supra].) Given these
circumstances, “it is not unreasonable to assume that an objection would have been futile
and to apply the rule that a party is not required to make fruitless objections.” (People v.
Curlee (2015) 237 Cal. App. 4th 709, 715 (Curlee).) Furthermore, “although California
authorities on the point are not uniform, our courts have several times examined
constitutional issues raised for the first time on appeal, especially when the enforcement
of a penal statute is involved [citation], the asserted error fundamentally affects the
validity of the judgment [citation], or important issues of public policy are at issue
[citation].” (Hale v. Morgan (1978) 22 Cal. 3d 388, 394.)
       In evaluating the merits of appellant’s equal protection challenge, we must
determine (1) whether SVP’s are similarly situated to NGI’s for the purpose of the right
not to testify at commitment proceedings; and (2) if so, whether the state has met its
burden of justifying the disparate treatment of SVP’s. (See McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at
p. 1202.) On the first point, we rely on the Supreme Court’s rationale set forth in
McKee I (see ante, at pp. 4-8) and Moye (see ante, fn. 6) and find the groups are similarly
situated: both suffer from severe mental disorders, have committed criminal acts, and
have been committed to the state hospital for treatment.8 On the second point, based on

8      The Attorney General contends SVP’s and NGI’s are not similarly situated
because a state hospital acquires custody of NGI’s “at the time [they are] found not guilty
by reason of insanity,” treats NGI’s “for the maximum period for which [they] could

                                             10.
the record before us, the state has not justified its differential treatment of SVP’s and
NGI’s vis-à-vis the right not to testify.9 We emphasize, however, we do not conclude
this burden cannot be met. Following in the footsteps of our high court in McKee I, we
believe the proper remedy is to remand the matter to the superior court to afford the state
the opportunity to make the appropriate showing.10

have been imprisoned if found guilty,” and “necessarily has a wealth of information on
[NGI’s] and is in a good position to assess whether [NGI’s] need[] continued treatment.”
We are unable to verify this assertion based on the record before us. (See Curlee, supra,
237 Cal.App.4th at pp. 720-721.)
        Alternatively, the Attorney General points out the United States Supreme Court
has approved different standards of proof for SVP’s and NGI’s in Jones v. United States
(1983) 463 U.S. 354. “This argument is unavailing. In Jones, the court allowed a lower
standard of proof for NGI’s—that is, less favorable treatment—because they had already
advanced their insanity as a defense and proved their criminal acts were a result of their
mental illness. [Citation.] Jones provides no justification for more favorable treatment
of NGI’s than of other civil committees.” (Curlee, supra, 237 Cal.App.4th at p. 721,
fn. 6.)
9      The Attorney General cites McKee II to support the disparate treatment of SVP’s.
(See ante, at p. 7.) While the Supreme Court in McKee II did conclude the state met its
burden of justifying why SVP’s are subject to indeterminate commitments due to their
higher likelihood of recidivism, their victims’ unique and greater trauma, and their
diagnostic and treatment differences, we are not convinced these distinctions necessarily
demonstrate the need for compelled testimonies from SVP’s but not NGI’s. (Curlee,
supra, 237 Cal.App.4th at pp. 721-722.)
10    The Attorney General suggests any error in compelling appellant to testify at his
commitment trial was harmless. We disagree. As we previously discussed in an earlier
case:
               “The right to not be compelled to testify against oneself is clearly
       and relevantly implicated when a person is called by the state to testify in a
       proceeding to []commit him or her even if what is said on the witness stand
       is not per se incriminating. By calling the person in its case-in-chief, the
       state is essentially saying that his or her testimony is necessary for the state
       to prove its case. We have no doubt that a committee so compelled to
       testify is prejudiced under these circumstances. The California Supreme
       Court noted in Cramer v. Tyars (1979) 23 Cal. 3d 131 that permitting the
       jury to observe the person sought to be committed and to hear him speak
       and respond provided ‘the most reliable proof and probative indicator of the

                                             11.
                                       DISPOSITION
       The matter is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings.
       On remand, the trial court is directed to conduct an evidentiary hearing, during
which the People will have the opportunity to justify why SVP’s—but not NGI’s—must
be compelled to testify at commitment proceedings. If the trial court finds the People
have carried this burden, it shall confirm its order committing appellant as an SVP. If the
trial court finds otherwise, a new commitment trial shall be conducted pursuant to the
SVPA to determine whether appellant is an SVP.
       In all other respects, the judgment is affirmed.

                                                                _____________________
                                                                           DETJEN, J.
WE CONCUR:

 _____________________
 HILL, P.J.

 _____________________
 GOMES, J.

       person’s present mental condition.’ [Citation.] As such, we cannot
       conclude that compelling [an SVP] to testify, even if his testimony was in
       some regards cumulative to that of other witnesses, was harmless error.”
       (People v. Haynie, supra, 116 Cal.App.4th at p. 1230.)

                                            12.