Court Opinion

ID: 4305571
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-08-21 11:18:09.434895+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:37:04.219902
License: Public Domain

AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed August 20, 2018.

                                               In The
                                Court of Appeals
                         Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                       No. 05-17-00769-CV

              IN RE THE COMMITMENT OF FREDDIE GENE ANDERSON
                        On Appeal from the 15th Judicial District Court
                                   Grayson County, Texas
                             Trial Court Cause No. CV-16-1388

                              MEMORANDUM OPINION
                           Before Justices Francis, Brown, and Stoddart
                                   Opinion by Justice Stoddart
       This appeal involves a civil commitment pursuant to the Sexually Violent Predator Act

(“SVP Act”). Following a trial, Freddie Gene Anderson was found to be a sexually violent

predator as defined in section 841.003 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. The trial court’s

judgment orders appellant committed until his behavior abnormality changes to the extent he no

longer is likely to engage in a predatory act of sexual violence. In four issues, appellant argues the

evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support a finding that he has a behavioral

abnormality making him likely to engage in a predatory act of sexual violence, the trial court

erroneously sustained the State’s objection to his closing argument, and the trial court erred by

granting a partial directed verdict on the “repeat sexually violent offender” element of the State’s

case. We affirm the trial court’s judgment and order of civil commitment.
                                           BACKGROUND

       In enacting the SVP Act, the Texas Legislature found that “a small but extremely dangerous

group of sexually violent predators exists and that those predators have a behavioral abnormality

that is not amenable to traditional mental illness treatment modalities and that makes the predators

likely to engage in repeated predatory acts of sexual violence.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE

ANN. § 841.001. It further found that a civil commitment procedure for the long-term supervision

and treatment of sexually violent predators is necessary and in the interest of the state. Id. To

warrant an individual’s commitment as a sexually violent predator, the State is required to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is (1) a “repeat sexually violent offender,” and (2)

suffers from “a behavioral abnormality that makes the person likely to engage in a predatory act

of sexual violence.” Id. § 841.003(a). A person is a repeat sexually violent offender if he has been

convicted of more than one sexually violent offense and a sentence was imposed for at least one

of the offenses. Id. A “behavioral abnormality” is “a congenital or acquired condition that, by

affecting a person’s emotional or volitional capacity, predisposes the person to commit a sexually

violent offense, to the extent that the person becomes a menace to the health and safety of another

person.” Id. § 841.002(2).

       In August 2016, the State filed a petition alleging appellant is a repeat sexually violent

offender who suffers from a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to engage in predatory

acts of sexual violence.     The State sought to have appellant committed for treatment and

supervision in accordance with chapter 841. The case against appellant proceeded to trial on April

10, 2017. The evidence shows appellant has four convictions for sexually violent acts against two

children. The judgments from the criminal cases are included in the record. After the close of

evidence, the trial court granted the State’s motion for partial directed verdict, declaring appellant

a “repeat sexually violent offender.” See id. § 841.003. The remainder of the case was submitted

                                                 –2–
to a jury, and the jury unanimously concluded appellant is a “sexually violent predator” as defined

by the Act. Id. The trial court entered final judgment and issued an order of commitment based

on the jury’s verdict.

                                                                  DISCUSSION

A. Sufficiency of the Evidence

           In his first and second issues, appellant challenges the legal and factual sufficiency1 of the

evidence supporting the finding that he has a behavioral abnormality making him likely to engage

in a predatory act of sexual violence. We review the legal sufficiency of the evidence using the

appellate standard of review for criminal cases. In re Commitment of Rodriguez, No. 05-17-00514-

CV, 2018 WL 3387363, at *2 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 12, 2018, no pet. h.); In re Commitment of

Dever, 521 S.W.3d 84, 86 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2017, no pet.) (citing In re Commitment of

Mullens, 92 S.W.3d 881, 885 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2002, pet. denied)); see also Jackson v.

Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 319 (1979). We assess the evidence in the light most favorable to the

verdict to determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found the elements required for

commitment under the SVP Act beyond a reasonable doubt. Dever, 521 S.W.3d at 86. When

reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the civil commitment order, we weigh

the evidence to determine “whether a verdict that is supported by legally sufficient evidence

nevertheless reflects a risk of injustice that would compel ordering a new trial.” Id.; see In re

Commitment of Rodriguez, 2018 WL 3387363, at *2.

           At the time of trial, appellant had four convictions for aggravated sexual assault of a child

and was an inmate in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Before his incarceration, he

     1
        Factual sufficiency review has been abandoned in criminal cases in which the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt, see Brooks v.
State, 323 S.W.3d 893 (Tex. Crim. App. 2010), but the Beaumont Court of Appeals, which until recently handled the bulk of SVP Act appeals, has
continued to perform a factual sufficiency review. See In re Commitment of Day, 342 S.W.3d 193, 206–13 (Tex. App.–Beaumont 2011, pet. denied)
(explaining that as an intermediate appellate court, it has a constitutional duty to review factual sufficiency when the issue is raised on appeal; that
the Texas Supreme Court, not the Court of Criminal Appeals, construes the Texas constitution as it is applied in civil cases; and that it would
continue to apply the factual sufficiency review until the Texas Supreme Court overrules or distinguishes its binding precedent); see also Dever,
521 S.W.3d at 86.

                                                                         –3–
admitted himself into a hospital for treatment of depression and alcohol abuse. He testified at trial

that he is not an alcoholic and no longer desires alcohol. During the treatment program, appellant

told his therapy group about his prior sexual contacts with children. He believed he had a sexual

addiction at that time and “kind of wanted to” have sex with children. While hospitalized,

appellant contacted the police and reported he sexually assaulted two children.

        Appellant sexually assaulted his 11-year-old niece (“Niece”) when he was 24 years old.

Appellant first assaulted Niece while he was babysitting her. Appellant testified that after her

brothers went to bed, Niece climbed into his lap and “we started kissing. And then the next thing

I know, I took - - went into her bedroom and started kissing. There wasn’t much talking. We just

- - she said she wanted to, and me and her [sic] had sex.” After that incident, appellant believed

he was involved in a romantic relationship with Niece and she was his girlfriend.

        At later dates, appellant fondled Niece and forced his finger into her vagina. He told police

in a statement he would “try to get her off,” put his penis into her vagina on multiple occasions,

penetrated her anus with his penis, and performed oral sex on her. He told police he “made love

to her all night long.” These actions gave him an “adrenaline rush.” He was sexually aroused by

the sexual contact with Niece and he believed it was consensual. Although appellant knew his

actions were wrong, he continued because Niece did not tell him to stop. Appellant testified: “All

she had to do is say don’t do it, stop, leave me alone.” He believed he initiated all sexual contact

with Niece and acknowledged he had difficulty controlling his behavior “[t]o a certain point.”

        When appellant testified a second time as part of his defense, he stated he knows a child

can never consent to sexual contact and his prior testimony that he did not stop assaulting Niece

because she did not tell him to was “a bad thinking error.” He no longer would say he wants a

child to be his girlfriend.

                                                –4–
        Appellant eventually decided he wanted a relationship with another adult. He began dating

Ann who had a two-year-old daughter (“B”). Appellant lived with Ann and B and had a sexual

relationship with Ann. He sexually assaulted B. Appellant answered affirmatively when asked:

“[Y]ou had access to an age-appropriate sexual partner, but you instead turned to a child for sexual

gratification; is that correct?”

        Appellant testified he “wasn’t really sexually attracted” to B. He tickled and kissed B and

he took a bath with B, which he found sexually arousing. He fondled her vagina and put his finger

into her vagina because he “was hoping to get a rush” and sexually arouse B. He tried to force his

penis into her vagina, but her vagina was too small. When asked to explain why he believed he

could have vaginal intercourse with a two-year-old, appellant explained he “was off in my own

little world and thinking this might work . . . but it didn’t work out.” He knew his actions were

wrong and speculated he abused B because Ann cheated on him.

        After assaulting the two girls, appellant felt “excited, aroused . . . elated . . I felt good for a

while.” But then he became depressed and abused alcohol. Appellant eventually realized he is “a

sick son-of-a gun.” He needed to “quit drinking, quit doing the act” and “get away from that

behavior of acting out.” He acknowledged he was unable to control his behavior. Appellant

pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child for the offenses against Niece

and B. He was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.

        Appellant testified that while incarcerated he “straightened my life out a whole lot.” He

does not believe he is sexually attracted to children anymore, although he was in the past. He

conceded he had sexual thoughts about children and masturbated to sexual thoughts about children

while in prison, but testified he stopped “[m]aybe five years ago.” He does not believe he is a sex

offender, but thinks sex offender treatment will help keep him “on the straight and narrow.” He

can control his behavior through group therapy, church, and people who help him “get my life

                                                   –5–
back on track when I do get out.” He does not think he needs to stay away from children because

he can control himself around children. He does not believe he will commit sexual assault in the

future, but concedes it is possible.

       Tim Proctor, Ph.D., a forensic psychologist, evaluated appellant to determine whether he

has a behavioral abnormality making him likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence.

Proctor reviewed records relating to appellant’s sex offenses, including police reports, appellant’s

prior statements, court documents showing adjudication of guilt and the sentences imposed; prison

disciplinary records and evaluations; sex offender treatment records; the transcript from

appellant’s deposition; and statements made by appellant to another psychologist. He also

interviewed appellant on October 13, 2016.

       Appellant told Proctor he had sexual contact with four children. In addition to Niece and

B, when appellant was fifteen years old, he fondled a seven-year-old female neighbor. When

appellant was twenty-six years old, he fondled his six-year-old nephew’s penis while the nephew

was asleep. Proctor testified the incident with the nephew was significant because “those who

have a history of at least one male victim tend to be at a higher risk for re-offending.” Additionally,

Proctor testified it was a “very strong research factor” that appellant assaulted children not related

to him. People who assault non-relatives are at a higher risk for reoffending because the potential

victim pool is larger.

       Proctor testified that although appellant believed Niece was interested in him and was his

girlfriend, records indicate “she was scared of him, she worried that he would hurt her.” Niece

“rearranged her bed to try to protect herself from him . . . she was not at all interested and was

scared of him.” Proctor explained: “This kind of distorted thinking about victimizing a child is

part of what contributes to sexual offending. Seeing an 11-year-old child as being interested in

sex, being like a girlfriend, distorting how the offending really happened. That kind of mindset

                                                 –6–
increases a person’s risk for sexual reoffending.” Proctor believed appellant had not changed his

thinking process and needed additional sex offender treatment. Proctor explained appellant’s

statement he would have stopped assaulting Niece if she told him to is “very problematic and

distorted. . . he is still not getting it. . . A lot of really important things . . . are just still not making

sense to him the way they have to.”

        Appellant told Proctor he no longer has sexual fantasies and thoughts about children.

However, when confronted with his own prior statement to a different psychologist that he does

fantasize about children, appellant said “well, if it’s in writing, then it must be true.” In his

deposition, appellant stated he fantasized about children while in prison, but stopped doing so five

years earlier. Other statements by appellant indicated he continued having fantasies, but was

endeavoring to stop them.

        Proctor administered a PCLR test, a psychopathy instrument, and concluded appellant is

not a psychopath. He also administered the Static-99R, which is an actuarial risk assessment

specific to sex offenders and measures the risk factors specific to sex offending. Appellant scored

a two, which is in the average range. Proctor noted the Static-99R does not consider the victims’

ages.

        Proctor testified appellant’s attraction to small children is a sexual deviancy called

pedophilia disorder. Appellant’s history of offending includes prepubescent children, including B

who was “extraordinarily young,” and that “is a highly sexually deviant offense and the entire

history, victim history, indicates significant strong sexual deviancy in terms of pedophilia being

sexually attracted to prepuberty kids.”           Proctor also diagnosed appellant with borderline

intellectual functioning and alcohol use disorder that is in sustained remission in a controlled

environment. Anderson’s below-average level of intellectual functioning impacts his ability to

benefit from sex offender treatment and change his manner of thinking.

                                                     –7–
       Proctor discussed additional risk factors for a behavioral abnormality, including

employment history, substance abuse, and relationship history. A person such as appellant who

has not maintained stable employment is more likely to reoffend, probably because poor

employment history is an indicator of instability. A history of substance abuse is a risk factor.

Proctor stated: “[A]lcohol is a real problem with people when it comes to offending, including

sexual offending, because it loosens them up, dis-inhibits them to act on something that they might

otherwise resist. And so, what you find is that substance use, including alcohol use, if you have a

problem with that, that is a risk factor.” Appellant’s history of alcohol abuse was strongly

associated with committing sex offenses. Appellant’s relationship history also was “problematic”

both for intimate and non-intimate relationships. When a person with pedophilia does not have

stable adult friendships and romantic relationships, the person is more susceptible to his interest in

children. People, such as appellant, who have not had long-term live-in romantic relationships for

at least two years are more likely to re-offend. Appellant also lacks a strong support system. He

does not have a lot of people who would take care of him, support him, “stand[] behind him and

work[] with him.”

       To a limited extent, Proctor considered that appellant was sexually abused as a child. Some

research indicates that people who were abused as children are more likely to abuse a child.

       Proctor testified appellant has a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to engage in

a predatory act of sexual violence. Appellant is part of the small but dangerous group of sex

offenders that the statute targets. Proctor testified appellant has a “strong interest in children and

acted on it when in the free world.” Even though he has been incarcerated, he continues having

sexual thoughts about children, “and even masturbate [sic] about those.” While he has undergone

some treatment, he has not progressed well and it has not been enough. “[A]s he sits here today,

                                                 –8–
he is still a person who has a history of acting out against prepuberty children, an interest in those

children, and who is at significant risk for engaging in that type of behavior in the future.”

       Some protective factors that Proctor considered are appellant’s age and sex offender

treatment. As a person ages, the risk of reoffending, particularly sexually reoffending, declines.

Completing a treatment program also reduces the risk of reoffending. Appellant is about 52 years

old and was enrolled in a sex offender treatment program when Proctor interviewed him.

However, the protective factors of age and participation in a treatment program do not outweigh

the strength of the risk factors, which is high. Proctor believed that, at the time of trial, appellant

still “has serious difficulty controlling his behavior” based on his history, sexual fantasies about

children, and masturbation about those fantasies. Proctor believed appellant continued to be

sexually attracted to children. Proctor did not believe the pedophilia would resolve itself, and

appellant continued suffering from the disorder at the time of trial. While appellant’s age would

reduce the risk he would reoffend, “it’s certainly not anywhere near to the point that [pedophilia]

is not present.”

       According to Proctor, appellant’s testimony that he thinks he could be around children

shows a lack of self-awareness, which increases his risk and makes him likely to engage in a

predatory act of sexual violence. Proctor considers appellant a high risk because “he is someone

with a very strong level of sexual deviancy that is demonstrated in the past and there’s [sic] still

indications of it now. He’s got a history that involves multiple offenses involving children, and

he still has not reached a point where he understands the extent of it with the risk involved.”

       Although appellant argues on appeal that the evidence is insufficient because Proctor

concluded he is not a psychopath and he only scored a two on the Static-99R, the jury also heard

ample evidence that appellant has a condition that predisposes him to commit another sexually

violent offense to the extent he is a menace to the health and safety of another person. See TEX.

                                                 –9–
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 41.002(2). The jury, as the sole judge of the credibility of the

witnesses and the weight to be given to their testimony, could weigh this evidence and draw

reasonable inferences from basic to ultimate facts. See In re Commitment of Brown, No. 05-16-

01178-CV, 2018 WL 947904, at *9 (Tex. App.—Dallas Feb. 20, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, we conclude a rational trier of fact

could have found appellant suffers from a behavioral abnormality and is a sexually violent predator

beyond a reasonable doubt. See Dever, 521 S.W.3d at 86. Likewise, the verdict does not reflect

“a risk of injustice that would compel ordering a new trial.” Id. We overrule appellant’s first and

second issues.

B. Objection in Closing Argument

       In his third issue, appellant argues the trial court abused its discretion by sustaining the

State’s objection to his closing argument and then instructing the jury to disregard. The following

exchange occurred during appellant’s closing argument:

               [Appellant’s counsel]: We heard that he’s not a psychopath. The one thing
       that the statute mandates has to be addressed because we’re looking for predators,
       that small but dangerous group of sexual offenders. And we heard over and over
       again that pedophilic disorder is not the same thing as behavioral abnormality.
               Rick factors. Static-99 addresses 10 risk factors, 10 risk factors that the
       researchers find are the most predictive. He scored a “2” out of a possible “12,”
       giving him the average score. And that doesn’t address sexual violent offenses,
       which this statute is looking for; it addresses all sexual offenses. So, he has an
       average risk to commit any sex offense, not just sexually violent offenses.
               Psychopathy. Dr. Proctor scored him a “14” out of “40” - -
               [State’s counsel]: Your honor, I’m going to object to the misstatement that
       psychopathy is required testing under the law. That is a misstatement of Chapter
       841.
               THE COURT: I’ll sustain the objection.
               Disregard the first part of that, the only test required by the law.

Appellant asserts that by sustaining the State’s objection, the trial court “essentially ruled that

Chapter 841 does not require [testing for psychopathy] contrary to the plain and clear language in

Section 841.023(c) [sic] that requires such testing.”
                                               –10–
       Section 841.023(a) states the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall assess whether a

person suffers from a behavior abnormality that makes the person likely to engage in a predatory

act of sexual violence. TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 841.023(a). The department must

use an expert to examine the person. See id. “The expert shall make a clinical assessment based

on testing for psychopathy, a clinical interview, and other appropriate assessments and techniques

to aid the department in its assessment.” Id. The statute does not only mandate testing for

psychopathy. By its plain language, it also requires a clinical interview and “other appropriate

assessments and techniques to aid the department in its assessment.” See id. Therefore, we cannot

say the trial court abused its discretion by sustaining the State’s objection to appellant’s argument

that the “one thing that the statute mandates” is testing for psychopathy. Additionally, we note

appellant has not argued or shown he was harmed by any alleged error by the trial court. See TEX.

R. APP. P. 44.1(a) (reversible error in civil cases). We overrule appellant’s third issue.

C. Directed Verdict

       In his fourth issue, appellant argues the trial court erred by granting a directed verdict on

the “repeat sexually violent offender” element of the State’s case because he was entitled to a jury

trial on this issue. Appellant argues there is a conflict between the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure,

which allow for a directed verdict, and the SVP Act, which requires the jury to find beyond a

reasonable doubt that a person is a sexually violent predator. Appellant asserts that because the

SVP Act requires a criminal burden of proof, the Legislature did not intend for trial courts to grant

directed verdicts. He does not challenge the evidentiary support for the directed verdict.

       Pursuant to Chapter 841, a defendant in a sexually violent predator case “is entitled to a

jury trial on demand.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 841.061(b). Although the burden of

proof in a civil commitment proceeding is beyond a reasonable doubt, civil commitment

proceedings remain subject to the rules of civil procedure. Id. § 841.146(b) (except as otherwise

                                                –11–
provided, civil commitment proceeding subject to rules of procedure and appeal for civil cases).

Those rules expressly provide for directed verdicts. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 268.

       In civil cases, a party has a right to a jury trial to determine questions of fact. Id. However,

“[u]ncontroverted questions of fact need not be and should not be submitted to the jury for its

determination.” Clark v. Nat’l Life & Accident Ins. Co., 145 Tex. 575, 200 S.W.2d 820, 822

(1947); see City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 815 & n.52 (Tex. 2005); In re Commitment

of Harris, 541 S.W.3d 322, 330 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, no pet.). A partial

directed verdict is a procedure for removing parts of a civil case from the jury when there are no

fact issues to resolve. Johnson v. Swain, 787 S.W.2d 36, 36 n.1 (Tex. 1989); Harris, 541 S.W.3d

at 330. Partial directed verdicts may be granted on the question whether a person is a repeat

sexually violent offender because the SVP Act is civil, not punitive. See In re Commitment of

Hood, No. 01-16-00866-CV, 2018 WL 1633330, at *3 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 5,

2018, pet. filed); Harris, 541 S.W.3d at 330 (citing In re Commitment of Fisher, 164 S.W.3d 637,

645–53 (Tex. 2005)); In re Commitment of Talley, 522 S.W.3d 742 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st

Dist.] 2017, no pet.). We conclude the trial court did not err by granting a partial directed verdict

on the issue of whether appellant is a repeat sexually violent offender. We overrule appellant’s

fourth issue.

                                            CONCLUSION

       We affirm the trial court’s judgment and order of civil commitment.

                                                    /Craig Stoddart/
                                                    CRAIG STODDART
                                                    JUSTICE

170769F.P05

                                                –12–
                               Court of Appeals
                        Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                       JUDGMENT

 IN RE: THE COMMITMENT OF                            On Appeal from the 15th Judicial District
 FREDDIE GENE ANDERSON                               Court, Grayson County, Texas
                                                     Trial Court Cause No. CV-16-1388.
 No. 05-17-00769-CV                                  Opinion delivered by Justice Stoddart.
                                                     Justices Francis and Brown participating.

     In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial court is
AFFIRMED.

Judgment entered this 20th day of August, 2018.

                                              –13–