Court Opinion

ID: 2753714
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-20 18:13:16.100508+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:26:08.269411
License: Public Domain

FILED 

                                                                      November 20, 2014 

                                                                  In the Office of the Clerk of Court 

                                                                W A State Court of Appeals, Division III 

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON 

                            DIVISION THREE 

In re the Detention of:                       )
                                              )         No. 31210-1-111
                                              )
KENNETH LONGSDORFF,                           )
                                              )
                                              )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                     Appellant.               )

       SIDDOWAY, C.J.      In April 2009, shortly before Kenneth Longsdorff completed

his sentence for a sex offender conviction, the State filed a petition to civilly commit him

as a sexually violent predator under chapter 71.09 RCW. Following a 7-day trial, ajury

found that the State had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Longsdorff was a

sexually violent predator and the trial court entered an order of civil commitment.

       Mr. Longsdorffs appeal challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt that he was likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual

violence unless confined to a secure facility. He emphasizes the fact that the State's

expert witness relied on 4 actuarial assessment tools in the course of his evaluation, and

they suggested at most a 57 percent risk ofreoffense after 6 years of release and a

59 percent risk of reoffense after 10 years, with 2 of the actuarial assessment tools

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No. 3121O-1-II1
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suggesting much lower risks ofreoffense-as low as 5.5 percent at 5 years, and 9 percent

at 10 years. He argues that "a 5.5% to 57% statistical probability ofre-offense ... years

into the future" does not constitute proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Br. of Appellant at

11.

       The State's expert witness followed a "multi-component approach" to risk

assessment and testified to other evidence demonstrating Mr. Longsdorffs risk to

children (including Mr. Longsdorffs long history of raping and molesting boys) and to

the limitations of actuarial assessment results. Report of Proceedings (Sept. 18,2012)

(RP) at 98. Viewed in the light most favorable to the State, the evidence was sufficient.

We affirm.

                      FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       Kenneth Longsdorffhas a long history of raping and molesting boys. He has self-

reported sexually assaulting at least 9 boys during his lifetime. He first acted on his

sexual fantasies when he was 17, with the son of some acquaintances. Mr. Longsdorff

both anally and orally raped the son for 3 to 4 years. When the boy got older, Mr.

Longsdorffwas no longer interested because he was "too old for him." Ex. 53, at 43.

Mr. Longsdorffalso engaged or attempted to engage in sexual contact with the boy's

2 younger brothers.

       At 20, Mr. Longsdorffwas living in San Jose, California. A young Mexican boy,

age 8 to 10, lived next door. Mr. Longsdorffbecame acquainted with the boy and over

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     In re Det. ofLongsdorff

,t   approximately the next 4 years, Mr. Longsdorff sexually assaulted him more times than

 1   Mr. Longsdorff could count.

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            In 1980, when Mr. Longsdorff was around 30 years old, he married a Spanish

t    speaking woman, with whom Mr. Longsdorff could not even communicate, given the

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     language barrier. The woman had a son who was 9 years old. While married, Mr.

     Longsdorff engaged in multiple assaults of his stepson, including oral and anal rape. Mr.

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     Longsdorff again abused the boy more times than he could count.

            Although many of the sexual assaults went unreported, Mr. Longsdorffwas

     ultimately charged and convicted of several sexual offenses committed against boys,

     involving acts similar to those detailed above. In 1992, he was convicted of rape of a

     child in the second degree, rape of a child in the third degree, and 2 counts of rape of a

     child in the first degree. In 1993, he was convicted of child molestation in the first

     degree. Following the 1992 conviction, Mr. Longsdorffparticipated in sex offender

     treatment at the Monroe Correctional Complex, where he completed treatment in the Sex

     Offender Treatment Program.

            Nonetheless, in April 2009, shortly before Mr. Longsdorff completed his sentence,

     the State filed a petition in Walla Walla County Superior Court to civilly commit Mr.

     Longsdorff as a sexually violent predator (SVP) under chapter 71.09 RCW. The court

     remanded Mr. Longsdorffto the custody of the Special Commitment Center (SCC) at

     McNeil Island and ordered him to submit to interviews and testing. At the SCC he was

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No. 31210-1-II1
In re Del. ofLongsdorf!

classified as having special needs due to his limited intellectual functioning. Mr.

Longsdorffhas a full scale IQ of66-76, which is considered to be mildly mentally

retarded.

       Mr. Longsdorffs first civil commitment trial ended in a mistrial after it was

discovered that the Department of Social and Health Services had failed to produce a

2010 evaluation of Mr. Longsdorffto the parties. The civil commitment proceeding

came on for a second jury trial in September 2012. While many witnesses were called

during the 7-day trial, the State's principal witness, whose testimony is central to this

appeal, was Dr. Henry Richards, a forensic psychologist who specializes in assessing

sexually violent predators.

       Dr. Richards had reviewed documentation of Mr. Longsdorffs criminal,

institutional, and mental health history and had conducted a clinical interview and

psychological testing of Mr. Longsdorff. Dr. Richards explained to the jury that in

arriving at an opinion as to Mr. Longsdorffs risk of offending in the future, he had

followed a generally accepted "multi-component approach," pursuant to which he had

considered (1) Mr. Longsdorffs mental disorders, (2) the results of actuarial risk

assessment testing, (3) Mr. Longsdorffs history of offenses and offense patterns, (4)

psychopathy, and (5) dynamic risk factors. Dr. Richards also considered protective

factors that might reduce Mr. Longsdorffs risk of offending.

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No. 3121O-1-III
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       Based upon his interviews and review of materials, Dr. Richards diagnosed Mr.

Longsdorffwith several mental disorders: pedophilia, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorder not

otherwise specified (NOS), cognitive disorder NOS, borderline intellectual functioning,

and personality disorder NOS.

       Mr. Longsdorfffocuses in this appeal on the actuarial tests that Dr. Richards used

to assess Mr. Longsdorffs risk ofreoffense. Dr. Richards used four: the Static-99, the

Static 2002R, the Minnesota Sex Offender Screening Test Revised (MnSOST-R), and the

Sex Offender Risk Assessment Guide (SORAG). The 4 tests are generally accepted in

the psychological community as valid predictors of potential sexual recidivism. Mr.

Longsdorffs Static-99 score indicated a 5.5 percent chance ofreoffending within 5 years,

and a 9 percent chance within 10 years. The Static 2002R indicated that Mr. Longsdorff

had a 12.3 percent chance ofreoffending within 5 years, and a 18.2 percent chance of

reoffending in 10 years. According to the MnSOST -R, individuals who scored in Mr.

Longsdorffs category have a 57 percent chance ofreoffending within 6 years after

release to the community. Finally, the SORAG test placed Mr. Longsdorff in a category

having a recidivism rate of 45 percent over 7 years, and 59 percent over 10 years.

      The opinion reached by Dr. Richards, and that he expressed to a reasonable degree

of psychological certainty, was that Mr. Longsdorff presented a high risk of engaging in

predatory acts of sexual violence against children if released into the community.

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     No.3121O-1-III
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            Mr. Longsdorffpresented the testimony of his own expert, Dr. Richard Wollert.

     Dr. Wollert disagreed with Dr. Richards's diagnosis of pedophilia and expressed the

     opinion that Mr. Longsdorffwas not likely to reoffend. He relied on only one actuarial

     instrument in reaching his opinion.

            The jury found that the State had proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr.

     Longsdorffwas an SVP, and the trial court entered an order of civil commitment. Mr.

     Longsdorff appeals.

                                             ANALYSIS

I           Although SVP commitment proceedings are civil in nature, the criminal standard

I    of review applies to sufficiency of the evidence challenges. In re Det. ofThorell, 149

I    Wn.2d 724, 744, 72 P.3d 708 (2003). The evidence is sufficient if, when viewed in the

     light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could find each essential element
ii   beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. As in criminal cases, we defer to the trier of fact on

I    issues of conflicting testimony, credibility of witnesses, and the persuasiveness ofthe

II   evidence. State v. Liden, 138 Wash. App. 110, 117, 156 P.3d 259 (2007).

I           To commit a person as an SVP, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt

II   that the individual (1) has been convicted of or charged with a crime of sexual violence;

     (2) suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder; and (3) is more likely than

I1   not, because of the disorder, to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not

     committed to a secure treatment facility. RCW 71.09.020(18). Civil commitment only
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No. 31210-1-111
In re Del. ofLangsdorf!

satisfies due process if the State proves an individual is "mentally ill and currently

dangerous." In re Del. ofMoore, 167 Wash. 2d 113, 124,216 P.3d 1015 (2009).

       Mr. Longsdorff contends that the State's evidence was insufficient to prove that he

is likely to commit predatory acts of sexual violence if released. He focuses on the

results of Dr. Richards's actuarial testing, arguing that the "actuarial tests that Dr.

Richards employed did not constitute evidence of what current risk Mr. Longsdorffwas

for re-offense. Rather, they only provided an assignment of risk many years into the

future." Br. of Appellant at 10. He also argues that because his scores on the actuarial

tests for the most part did not exceed 50 percent, they did not indicate a sufficient

likelihood that he would reoffend. Id. at 10-11. He submits that "5.5% to 57% statistical

probability does not constitute proof beyond a reasonable doubt and is a preposterously

wide range of probability." Id. at 11.

       Mr. Longsdorffs argument is too narrowly focused on one category of evidence to

be persuasive. Dr. Richards testified that the current consensus in the field is that one

cannot rely solely on actuarial science in determining whether an individual is likely to

reoffend. And on that score, Mr. Longsdorffs own expert, Dr. Wollert, was in

agreement. Dr. Wollert acknowledged that developers ofthe actuarial instrument he

employed believe that actuarials cannot take into account all potentially relevant risk

factors in SVP cases. Dr. Wollert also testified that actuarial data cannot determine

whether a person is likely to reoffend.

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     No. 31210-1-II1
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     In re De!. ofLongsdorff
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i             Dr. Richards provided the jury with a detailed explanation of the steps he had

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     taken in arriving at his opinion of Mr. Longsdorff's likelihood ofreoffending. He first
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       addressed Mr. Longsdorffs mental disorders, explaining that the presence of mental
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I      disorders may either increase or lower the risk of reoffense. He testified that Mr.
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       Longsdorffs pedophilia limits his empathy toward children and impairs his ability to

       avoid situations that would lead to sex offending. He testified that Mr. Longsdorffs

       cognitive disorder makes it difficult for him to apply any treatment concepts to which he

       is exposed. He testified that Mr. Longsdorffs alcohol abuse disinhibits any barriers to

       offending that Mr. Longsdorffmay have, and his anxiety disorder may cause him to seek

       alcohol or sexual activity to relieve stress. He found that all of Mr. Longsdorffs

       disorders increase his risk of offending in the future.

              Dr. Richards next explained his use of 4 actuarial instruments. Actuarial

       assessment involves statistical analysis to identify a number of risk factors that assist in

       the prediction of future dangerousness. Thorell, 149 Wash. 2d at 753. Dr. Richards

       acknowledged that while actuarial instruments have limitations because of the small

       sample sizes on which they are based, they nevertheless provide useful information. He

       testified that the Static-99R and Static 2002R were designed to assess factors that are

       objective and easy to measure, while the MnSOST-R and SORAG take clinical factors

       into account and require more clinical judgment by the assessor. He concluded that Mr.

       Longsdorffs lower recidivism rates suggested by the Static instruments indicated that

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     No. 31210-1-111
     In re Det. ofLongsdorff

     Mr. Longsdorffs risk was more related to clinical factors. When asked whether

     actuarials overestimate or underestimate risk, Dr. Richards answered that while they do

     both, "for the most part they greatly qnderestimate risk." RP at 110.

            Dr. Richards also explained to the jury that he had scored Mr. Longsdorff on the

     PCL-R, an instrument that measures psychopathy. Its results showed that Mr. Longsdorff

     has little empathy, lacks remorse, and has a high capacity to manipulate others.

            Dr. Richards told the jury about Stable 2007, an instrument designed to look at

     dynamic factors. Unlike static factors that tend not to change, dynamic risk factors are

     aspects of an individual that may change. Dr. Richards explained that he used Stable

     factors, but not the Stable test, to look at the dynamic factors that might affect Mr.

     Longsdorffs chances ofreoffending. Dr. Richards found that the most important factors

     to consider related to intimacy-specifically, the capacity for relationship stability, social

     rejection, and deviant sexual preference. Dr. Richards found that Mr. Longsdorff does

     not have a lot of history of being able to form a relationship, particularly an intimate

     relationship, where a child is not involved. Mr. Longsdorfffeeis that there is no one to

     help him, and this injustice justifies his offending. Finally, Dr. Richards found that Mr.

     Longsdorff has a deviant sexual preference in that he is orientated toward children.
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II          A final consideration that Dr. Richards explained to the jury was any protective
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I    factors, which he explained are "aspects of the individual that have been found to lower
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     their chance for reoffending." RP at 116. The first potential protective factor he
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No. 31210-1-111
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considered was community. He testified that the community factor did not apply because

Mr. Longsdorffhad not been in the community for a period of time without committing.

any crime or sex offense. The next was life expectancy. Dr. Richards testified that Mr.

Longsdorff s "age is taken into account in the actuarial, but 1 think his remaining life

span is ample enough to reoffend and is his health and ability, his inner personal ability

and social ability are good enough for him to reoffend. So 1 don't think he has that

protective factor." RP at 117. A third was sex offender treatment. Dr. Richards

expressed his opinion that although Mr. Longsdorff had participated in sex offender

treatment, he "did not get it," because his participation in treatment was "conditioned by

the many limitations he has." RP at 119. It was Dr. Richards's view that the core issue

of Mr. Longsdorffs orientation toward children was not addressed and Mr. Longsdorff,

"still doesn't understand it, doesn't really understand why he's this way, and does not

have the skills to control his risk." RP at 120. The final protective factor considered was

release environment. A release environment can be a protective factor because, "if an

individual is being released to an environment that is supportive and not like the

environment that they previously reoffended in, that's going to be ... protective." Id.

Dr. Richards told the jury that Mr. Longsdorffs plan upon release was to get an

apartment, "go to the race track, become rich, get a dog, [and] avoid children." RP at

12l. Dr. Richards stated that this was not a protective plan, because alcohol is served at

race tracks and dogs are a magnet for children.

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     No. 3121O-1-III
     In re Det. ofLongsdorf!

            After reviewing each risk assessment component, Dr. Richards summarized his

     opinions as follows:

            A. 	      . .. [Mr. Longsdorffs] pedophilia consists of a strong orientation,
                      emotional and sexual, toward relationships with children. He has
                      had limited treatment gains, a cognitive disorder that would make it
                      difficult for him to use the methods and techniques that he is--or to
                      remember the methods and techniques that he has been exposed to.
                             He has an untreated alcohol abuse problem. Until the last few
                      years he actually would state that he had no intentions of ever
                      stopping drinking. The-his ongoing impulsivity and as well as his .
                      anxiety will cause him to act, you know, act out rather than to think
                      his way through the difficulties he has. I think limitations I've
                      mentioned. At the current time, all those disorders contribute to
                      increasing risk.

            Q. 	      You've stated that you have the opinion that Mr. Longsdorffis likely
                      to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined. What
                      types of acts do you expect in your opinion to be committed?

            A. 	      Predatory acts. More specifically, I would expect him to engage in a
                      relationship with an adult to get closer to children, and become
                      closer to children. He is now in the grandma/grandpa set, and will
                      have lots of opportunities to be exposed to children. And I think that
                      the, that he will attach himself to a family system with children and
                      offend against one or more children.

            Q. 	      In your opinion can Mr. Longsdorffbe safely released into the
                      community at this time?
            A. 	      No.

     RP at 	124-25.

            When all of Dr. Richards's testimony is considered, Mr. Longsdorffs emphasis on

     combining actuarial testing results and characterizing the result as "a preposterously wide

     range of probability," with some indications oflow probability, is not persuasive. It is far

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     No.31210-1-II1
     In re Del. ofLongsdorf!

     too narrow an approach, given Dr. Richards's explanation of the bases for his opinion,

     and too dismissive of Dr. Richards's explanation of the limitations and differences in

     actuarial tests.

            Viewing all of the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, a rational juror
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     could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Longsdorffwas likely to commit

I    sexually violent crimes if not confined.

I           Affirmed.

            A majority of the panel has determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

     Washington Appellate Reports but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW

     2.06.040.

                                                       :;j;~, C--~
                                                   Siddoway, C.J.

     WE CONCUR:

     Brown, J.

     Lawrence-Berrey, J.

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