Court Opinion

ID: 4303999
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-15 16:06:48.806621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:11.362323
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

                                    No. 17-0641
                               Filed August 15, 2018

IN RE THE DETENTION OF CORY BLAKE WEST,

CORY BLAKE WEST,
     Respondent-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

      Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Wapello County, Shawn R. Showers,

Judge.

      Cory West appeals from the jury verdict finding that his mental abnormality

has not changed such that he is suitable for discharge from civil commitment as a

sexually violent predator. AFFIRMED.

      Jason Dunn of State Public Defender’s Office, Sioux City, for appellant.

      Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Timothy M. Hau, Assistant Attorney

General, for appellee State.

      Considered by Danilson, C.J., Vogel, J., and Scott, S.J.*

      *Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2018).
                                             2

DANILSON, Chief Judge.

          Cory West appeals from the jury verdict finding that his mental abnormality

has not changed such that he is suitable for discharge from civil commitment as a

sexually violent predator. Because there is substantial evidence from which the

jury could find West was not suitable for discharge from civil commitment, we

affirm.

          On September 1, 2011, a jury found West was a sexually violent predator

(SVP) as defined by Iowa Code chapter 229A.1 In re Det. of West, No. 11-1545,

2013 WL 988815, at *1 (Iowa Ct. App. Mar. 13, 2013) (affirming SVP finding).

Pursuant to that finding, West was confined at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sex

Offenders (CCUSO).

          West progressed through the CCUSO programming and moved to

transitional release in 2013,2 working at a food processing plant. In the summer

of 2014, West was harassed at work. Several days later, he cut off his ankle

monitor, purchased a plane ticket, and flew to Oklahoma. Once there, he checked

1
  Iowa’s civil commitment statute defines a SVP as a person who has been convicted of
or charged with a sexually violent offense and suffers from a “mental abnormality” that
makes the person “likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence” if not confined in
a secure facility. Iowa Code § 229A.2(5) (2015) (defining “likely to engage in predatory
acts of sexual violence”), (12) (defining “sexually violent predator”). The statute defines a
“mental abnormality” as “a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or
volitional capacity of a person and predisposing that person to commit sexually violent
offenses to a degree which would constitute a menace to the health and safety of others.”
Id. § 229A.2(6).
2
  “Transitional release is a treatment phase in which the committed person ‘is gradually
given increasing opportunities to live in less restrictive settings. The patient is monitored
closely, assessed clinically, and provided support as the patient takes on increasing
responsibility for the patient’s own care.’” Taft v. Iowa Dist. Ct. ex rel Linn Cty., 828
N.W.2d 309, 322 (Iowa 2013) (citation omitted).
                                         3

into a hotel. He registered as a sex offender and was arrested four days later.

Upon his return to Iowa, West restarted the CCUSO programming.

       In July 2016, West was identified as a person who might benefit from

counseling with a trauma group conducted by psychologist, Dr. Jane Daniel.

During group counseling, West reported he was having night terrors related to the

2014 harassment:

       What he reported to me was that . . . in 2014 in the summer, . . . he
       was assaulted in his place of employment by a coworker, slash,
       supervisor type person. And the person attempted or threatened
       sexual assault in the shower, and then threatened physical assault
       with a knife immediately following that.

In August, West also began individual counseling with Dr. Daniel, with whom he

met eighteen times over the next several months.

       At the CCUSO, West reached Phase IV, Level 5, the highest level of

privileges prior to transitional release. He has remained at that level for eighteen

months and seeks discharge.

       On December 5, 2016, an annual-review hearing was held.3 The district

court “acknowledged [receipt of] the November 28th annual report of Dr. Richard

B. Krueger, which counsel agree is relevant and reliable evidence to rebut the

3
  At an annual review,
        The burden is on the committed person to prove by a preponderance of the
        evidence that there is relevant and reliable evidence to rebut the
        presumption of continued commitment, which would lead a reasonable
        person to believe a final hearing, should be held to determine either of the
        following:
                         (a) The mental abnormality of the committed person has so
                changed that the person is not likely to engage in predatory acts
                constituting sexually violent offenses if discharged.
                         (b) The committed person is suitable for placement in a
                transitional release program pursuant to section 229A.8A.
Iowa Code § 229A.8(5)(e)(1). See Taft, 828 N.W.2d at 318 (discussing burden under
recently amended provision).
                                         4

presumption of continued commitment such that it would lead a reasonable person

to believe a final hearing should be held.” The district court scheduled a final

hearing on West’s request for discharge.

       A jury trial was held on March 21-23, 2017. Dr. Anna Salter, the State’s

expert witness, testified she believed West continued to suffer from a mental

abnormality that made him more likely than not to engage in another sexually

predatory act. Dr. Salter consulted West’s permanent file, his CCUSO notes, and

his records. She also interviewed him and scored him with the Static-99R actuarial

instrument. Dr. Salter stated West was diagnosed with a paraphilic disorder not

otherwise specified (NOS), arousal to non-consenting partners. In Dr. Salter’s

interview with West, West acknowledged a past practice of “taking advantage of

women” and “choosing to have nonconsensual sex.” He acknowledged deriving

enjoyment from “being able to manipulate [women] into something I wanted them

to do, which was still nonconsensual.” Dr. Salter found these statements were

consistent with his prior diagnosis of paraphilia NOS—non-consent.

       Dr. Salter opined West remained more likely than not to commit another

sexual offense if released. Dr. Salter scored West a four on the Static-99R. Using

“high risk” actuarial norms, she found West was a member of a group of which

27.3 percent were caught for a new offense within the first ten years of release, or

almost twice as likely to reoffend and be caught as the average sex offender. She

testified that though the Static-99R was a valuable and widely-used tool, it was

incomplete as it only provided a statistical likelihood of re-offense and arrest. She

noted rapes and sexual assaults are underreported.           Moreover, Dr. Salter

observed the Static-99R provides statistical analysis for five and ten-year sample
                                         5

sizes and does not assess an individual’s lifetime chances for offense as Iowa

Code section 229A.2(5) inquires. In addition, because the Static-99R examines

“static” factors of an individual’s makeup, the instrument does not examine

“dynamic” factors such as changes in an individual through therapy and

conditioning. Thus, Dr. Salter also evaluated a number of dynamic factors to

assess   West’s    likelihood   of   re-offense—including    sexualized    violence,

manipulation, grievance and hostility, a lack of emotionally intimate relationships,

a lack of concern for others, poor problem solving, and dysfunctional coping—all

of which indicated to Dr. Salter that West was more likely than not to commit further

acts of sexual violence.

       Dr. Salter also noted recent incidents suggested West’s preoccupation with

manipulation continued.     In mid-2015, West had reached out to the Centers

Against Abuse and Sexual Assault (CAASA) requesting services and materials for

dealing with trauma following his harassment at the food plant. Within the year

prior to trial, West repeatedly contacted a woman who worked with the CAASA.

Although the woman stated CAASA could not provide direct services to West,

Aaron Blood (West’s therapist) did request materials on West’s behalf. Thereafter,

West personally requested additional materials intended for male victims from the

woman at CAASA. He made multiple telephone calls a week to her, left voicemails,

and sent thank you cards. He proposed that she come to CCUSO to give a

presentation on CAASA’s services, remarking that he was “on the CCUSO

committee and they would like to highlight CAASA’s agency in order to give back.”

In pursuing the visit, West commented that some sexual abusers were themselves

victimized at one time or another.       The woman was unclear what sort of
                                        6

presentation West was seeking, and indicated that even if she were to make a

presentation, she would need to bring someone along. The next day she received

a thank-you card from West and a visitation application for the proposed

presentation. The card read, “[Blood] asked me to send this to you and that he

also provided an additional form for another person to come.”        The woman

telephoned Blood about excessive contacts from West. Blood informed her he

had not requested a presentation; rather, West had informed Blood that CAASA

wanted to come to CCUSO and speak to the inmates about their services. Blood

asked the woman to write a letter, which she did. West was told not to contact her

again. Dr. Salter also observed that a person identifying herself as a realtor had

called CCUSO and asked that West not be allowed to call her anymore. CCUSO

personnel had not kept a good record of this contact and the call could not be

confirmed.

      West testified about his ten months in transitional release.             He

acknowledged developing and maintaining a relationship with a woman during that

time despite being told by his treatment team to no longer have any contact with

her. He testified about his coworker who harassed him, assaulted him in the

shower, threatened to rape him, and pulled a knife on him. West stated he did not

report the threat or the knife incident at work but gave a CCUSO program

supervisor “a brief overview” of what had occurred, and West was told, “Well, just

deal with it then.” West absconded about a week later. He purchased a plane

ticket on Saturday. On Sunday, West lied about having to work and left CCUSO,

cut off his GPS tracking unit, drove his car to work, where he was met by a cab he

had ordered, and was taken to the airport. When he arrived in Oklahoma, he called
                                          7

an Iowa police department (which was neither in the county where he worked or

where CCUSO was) and reported “what had happened to me.” West described

his treatment plan upon his return to CCUSO programming. He discussed the

“dynamic risk factors” (or “things that you can actually change”) he was working on

explaining, “I’ve been looking at in the last year and a half, two years, is being able

to redevelop a lot of the structure that I didn’t have whenever I was offending and

being able to manage that structure on a day-to-day basis.”

       Dr. Kreuger testified for West. He first opined that West did not suffer from

a mental abnormality, and instead only made a diagnosis of “alcohol abuse in

sustained remission in a controlled environment.”          In Dr. Kreuger’s view, a

diagnosis of paraphilia NOS, non-consent, would require the individual to engage

in multiple physically coercive rapes, equating the requisite conduct with sexual

sadism. Based upon this definition, Dr. Kreuger found West “did not fit that

criteria.” He noted West had “a sort of unusual, screwy way of, sort of, trying to

meet women, meet individuals, but the essence of the matter where one is forcing

or coercing somebody was not present basically, so I don’t think that he meets the

criteria” of paraphilia NOS, non-consent. Dr. Krueger also stated that he believed

West’s chances of re-offense were “remote.” While he, too, scored West a four on

the Static-99R, he relied upon the “regular” norming tables, rather than the “high

risk” tables Dr. Salter used. Nor did Dr. Kreuger consult the updated coding rules

released in 2016.         He also      ran West     through a battery of         other

assessment instruments, some of which were outdated and not recommended in

current practice. Dr. Krueger opined West was not more likely than not to commit

future acts of predatory violence.
                                           8

       The jury was instructed as follows:

                                    Instruction No. 9
                In order to prove [West] is not suitable for discharge from civil
       commitment, the State must prove that [West]’s mental abnormality
       remains such that he is likely to engage in predatory acts that
       constitute sexually violent offenses if he is discharged.
                                   Instruction No. 10
                As used in these Instructions, the term “mental abnormality”
       means a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or
       volitional capacity and predisposing the person to commit sexually
       violent offenses to a degree that causes the person serious difficulty
       in controlling his behavior.
                You are instructed that at the time of his commitment in 2011,
       [West] was determined to be suffering from at least one mental
       abnormality.
                                   Instruction No. 11
                As used in these Instructions, the term “predatory acts” means
       engagement or dealings with another person which is primarily
       aimed at victimizing the person in a sexual manner.
                                   Instruction No. 12
                As used in these Instructions, the term “likely to engage in
       predatory acts constituting sexually violent offenses” means that the
       person more likely than not will engage in acts constituting sexually
       violent offenses. The word “likely” means that a proposition is more
       probably true than not.
                You are instructed that at the time of [West]’s commitment in
       2011, it was determined that he was likely to engage in predatory
       acts constituting sexually violent offenses if not confined in a secure
       facility.

       The jury returned a verdict finding West’s mental abnormality had not

changed such that he is suitable for discharge from civil commitment. The trial

court denied West’s motions for directed verdict, judgment notwithstanding the

verdict, and new trial.

       West appeals, arguing there is insufficient evidence that he continues to

suffer a mental abnormality and that he is more likely than not to commit future

acts of sexual violence.
                                              9

         We review West’s challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence for the

correction of errors at law. See In re Det. of Betsworth, 711 N.W.2d 280, 286 (Iowa

2006). We will affirm the jury’s finding if it is supported by substantial evidence.

See id. In determining whether substantial evidence supports the finding, we

consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, including all

legitimate inferences and presumptions that may be fairly and reasonably deduced

from the record. See id. Evidence that raises only suspicion, speculation, or

conjecture is insufficient. See id.

         At a final hearing, it is the State’s burden to prove beyond a reasonable

doubt “either of the following: (1) The committed person’s mental abnormality

remains such that the person is likely to engage in predatory acts that constitute

sexually violent offenses if discharged. (2) The committed person is not suitable

for     placement     in   a   transitional   release   program     pursuant    to section

229A.8A.”4 Iowa Code § 229A.8(6)(d).

4
    Section 229A.8A(2) provides in part:
                 A committed person is suitable for placement in the transitional
          release program if the court finds that all of the following apply:
                         (a) The committed person’s mental abnormality is no longer
                 such that the person is a high risk to reoffend.
                         (b) The committed person has achieved and demonstrated
                 significant insights into the person’s sex offending cycle.
                         (c) The committed person has accepted responsibility for
                 past behavior and understands the impact sexually violent crimes
                 have upon a victim.
                         (d) A detailed relapse prevention plan has been developed
                 and accepted by the treatment provider which is appropriate for the
                 committed person's mental abnormality and sex offending history.
                         (e) No major discipline reports have been issued for the
                 committed person for a period of six months.
                         (f) The committed person is not likely to escape or attempt
                 to escape custody pursuant to section 229A.5B.
                         (g) The committed person is not likely to engage in
                 predatory acts constituting sexually violent offenses while in the
                 program.
                                         10

       The jury was presented opposing expert witness opinions. Determining

witness credibility and weighing evidence is the job of the factfinder. See In re Det.

of Barnes, 689 N.W.2d 455, 461 (Iowa 2004). In doing so, the jury was free to

reject the testimony of Dr. Kreuger and accept the testimony of Dr. Salter. See In

re Det. of Hennings, 744 N.W.2d 333, 340 (Iowa 2008) (“The jury was free to reject

the testimony of Hennings’s expert witnesses and to instead accept the testimony

of [the State’s expert witness].”). In reaching its conclusion, the jury was entitled

to consider the entire testimony of the experts including their credentials. Our

review of the record reveals substantial evidence from which the jury could find

beyond a reasonable doubt that West remains subject to confinement as a SVP.

Finding no basis for reversal, we affirm.

       AFFIRMED.

                     (h) The placement is in the best interest of the committed
              person.
                     (i) The committed person has demonstrated a willingness to
              agree to and abide by all rules of the program.