Commonwealth v. McLeod

• Decision Date: 05 July 2002
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH v. JOHN T. McLEOD.
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

437 Mass. 286

771 NE 2d 142

COMMONWEALTH v. JOHN T. McLEOD.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Hampshire.

May 7, 2002.

July 5, 2002.

Present: MARSHALL, C.J., GREANEY, IRELAND, SPINA, COWIN, SOSMAN, & CORDY, JJ.

Steven Greenbaum, Assistant District Attorney, for the Commonwealth.

Nona E. Walker, Committee for Public Counsel Services, for the defendant.

SPINA, J.

A judge in the Superior Court dismissed a petition filed by the Commonwealth, pursuant to G. L. c. 123A, to commit the defendant to a secure facility as a sexually dangerous person. We granted the Commonwealth's application for direct appellate review. The sole issue on appeal is whether the provisions of G. L. c. 123A, § 12, apply to persons convicted of sexual offenses who have completed and been released from those sentences but who are later serving sentences for crimes that are not statutorily enumerated "sexual offenses." Because we conclude that the provisions of G. L. c. 123A, § 12, are not applicable in such circumstances, we affirm the judgment of the Superior Court.

1. Background. In July, 1988, the defendant was convicted of rape and indecent assault and battery of a child, for which he received suspended sentences. In March, 1992, the defendant was convicted of aggravated rape and kidnapping for which he was sentenced to concurrent terms of from seven to ten years and from five to ten years, respectively, in a State prison. During his incarceration, the defendant was informed of and refused to attend a sex offender treatment program. The defendant completed these sentences and was released from incarceration prior to enactment of the 1999 amendments to G. L. c. 123A. See St. 1999, c. 74, §§ 3-8.

In early 2000, the defendant was convicted of assault, assault and battery, threatening to commit a crime, and possession of a class E substance. None of these offenses is among those enumerated in G. L. c. 123A, § 1, as "[s]exual [o]ffenses." The defendant was sentenced to a one-year term of probation, but it was revoked in May, 2001, and he was sentenced to concurrent terms of three months in a house of correction. On June 13, 2001, the Commonwealth filed a petition for the defendant's civil commitment¹ as a sexually dangerous person² and a motion for temporary commitment, pursuant to G. L. c. 123A, § 12.³ Following a hearing, probable cause was found to believe that the defendant was a sexually dangerous person; he was temporarily committed to a treatment center for examination and diagnosis pursuant to G. L. c. 123A, § 13 (a). Two qualified examiners both concluded that the defendant was a sexually dangerous person.⁴ In August, 2001, the Commonwealth petitioned for a trial, pursuant to G. L. c. 123A, § 14 (a), and the defendant was ordered temporarily committed to a treatment center, pursuant to G. L. c. 123A, § 14 (e),⁵ pending disposition of the Commonwealth's commitment petition.

The defendant filed a motion to dismiss the Commonwealth's petition on the ground that G. L. c. 123A only applied to persons who were incarcerated for an enumerated sexual offense at the time the petition was filed. The Commonwealth filed a motion requesting that, in the event of dismissal, the defendant's release be stayed pending the Commonwealth's appeal. Following a hearing in the Superior Court, the defendant's motion to dismiss the commitment petition was allowed. The judge opined that the language of G. L. c. 123A, § 12, did not plainly and unambiguously provide that the Commonwealth could petition for the commitment of any incarcerated person with a past sexual offense conviction. Rather, examination of the statutory scheme suggested a legislative intent that petitions be brought only against incarcerated persons who were scheduled for release from sentences for enumerated sexual offenses, so as to treat those individuals who were currently sexually dangerous. Notwithstanding the dismissal of the commitment petition, the judge allowed the Commonwealth's motion to stay release pending appeal.

2. Discussion. The Commonwealth contends that the judge misinterpreted the plain language of G. L. c. 123A, § 12, when she concluded that this statutory provision does not apply to previously convicted sex offenders who, at the time of the filing of a commitment petition, are serving sentences for crimes other than sexual offenses. The Commonwealth argues that the language of § 12 is unambiguous and indicates that the statute applies to any incarcerated person who has ever been convicted of a sexual offense, regardless of the offense for which he is presently incarcerated. The absence of any language requiring that a defendant be in custody by reason of a conviction for a sexual offense demonstrates that the Legislature did not intend to include such a requirement. Therefore, the Commonwealth asserts, the provisions of G. L. c. 123A, § 12, apply to the defendant.

On September 10, 1999, the Legislature enacted emergency legislation, St. 1999, c. 74, §§ 3-8, amending G. L. c. 123A by providing for the one day to life commitment of a person adjudged a "sexually dangerous person."⁶ See G. L. c. 123A, § 14 (d). Prior to these amendments, for a period of almost ten years, no new "sexually dangerous person" classifications and no new commitments were permitted. See St. 1990, c. 150, § 304 (repealing G. L. c. 123A, §§ 3-6, and 7). The 1999 amendments established a new definition of a sexually dangerous person, see G. L. c. 123A, § 1, and five new sections pertaining to the procedures for adjudicating persons as sexually dangerous, see G. L. c. 123A, §§ 12-16.

When interpreting these 1999 amendments, we are guided by fundamental principles of statutory construction. "[S]tatutory language should be given effect consistent with its plain meaning and in light of the aim of the Legislature unless to do so would achieve an illogical result." Sullivan v. Brookline, 435 Mass. 353, 360 (2001). Where the language of a statute is inconclusive, courts must look to extrinsic sources for assistance in determining the correct interpretation of the statute, including legislative history, analogous statutory material, and relevant case law. See International Fid. Ins. Co. v. Wilson, 387 Mass. 841, 854 (1983). Courts presume that the Legislature is aware of existing statutes when it amends a statute or enacts a new one. See Commonwealth v. Russ R., 433 Mass. 515, 520 (2001); Charland v. Muzi Motors, Inc., 417 Mass. 580, 582-583 (1994).

Pursuant to the commitment procedures set forth in G. L. c. 123A, § 12 (a), any "[a]gency with jurisdiction"⁷ over a person convicted of a sexual offense as enumerated in G. L. c. 123A, § 1, must "notify in writing the district attorney of the county where the offense occurred and the attorney general six months prior to the release of such person." See Commonwealth v. Bruno, 432 Mass. 489, 495 (2000). "If the district attorney or Attorney General then `determines that the prisoner ... is likely to be a sexually dangerous person as defined in [§ ] 1 [of c. 123A],' either `may file a petition alleging that the prisoner... is a sexually dangerous person and stating sufficient facts to support such allegation in the superior court.'" Id., quoting G. L. c. 123A, § 12 (b). The thrust of the statutory scheme is that commitment petitions should be brought against persons currently incarcerated for sexual offenses who are about to be released into the community but who, because they are sexually dangerous, are likely to commit another sexual offense, and, therefore, should not be released. We are mindful that the stated purpose of G. L. c. 123A is "to protect forthwith the vulnerable members of our communities from sexual offenders." St. 1999, c. 74, emergency preamble.

In Commonwealth v. Bruno, supra at 491-492, this court considered, among other things, the retroactivity and constitutionality of the provisions of G. L. c. 123A, and we concluded that civil commitment proceedings were properly initiated against the defendants, notwithstanding the fact that their convictions of sexual offenses predated the effective date of the 1999 statutory amendments. Significantly, each of the defendants in that case, unlike the defendant herein, was serving his respective sentence on the sexual offense of which he had been convicted. We opined that "the conduct triggering the statute's application is not the prior conviction of a sexual offense, but the current mental condition of a defendant." Id. at 498. "That a person, in addition to possessing the requisite current mental condition, must have been convicted of a sexual offense, only identifies and limits the class of persons subject to potential commitment under c. 123A." Id. Although the requisite sexual offense conviction is not the basis for commitment (rather it is mental condition), it does determine the persons eligible, in the first instance, for potential civil commitment. See id. In the present case, the defendant was not serving a sentence for a sexual offense as defined in G. L. c. 123A, § 1. Because there is no underlying sexual offense conviction that would trigger the procedures set forth in c. 123A, the defendant is not eligible for potential civil commitment.⁸ That the defendant was convicted of sexual offenses ten years ago does not change our analysis; he completed his sentences for those crimes prior to enactment of the 1999 revisions of G. L. c. 123A, and his present crimes are not enumerated sexual offenses. Were we to conclude otherwise, any defendant serving a sentence for any crime who had ever in the past committed an enumerated sexual offense, no matter how temporally distant, would be eligible for civil commitment, contingent on that defendant's current mental condition. General Laws c. 123A does not evidence such a broad legislative intent.⁹

We pointed out in Commonwealth v. Bruno, supra at 502, quoting Commonwealth v. Travis, 372 Mass. 238, 250 (1977), that "[w]hile...