In re Manigo

• Decision Date: 20 June 2012
• Docket Number: No. 27134.,27134.
• Citation: 398 S.C. 149,728 S.E.2d 32
• Court: South Carolina Supreme Court
• Parties: In the Matter of the Care and Treatment of Bobbie MANIGO, Petitioner.

398 S.C. 149

728 S.E.2d 32

In the Matter of the Care and Treatment of Bobbie MANIGO, Petitioner.

No. 27134.

Supreme Court of South Carolina.

Heard March 7, 2012.

Decided June 20, 2012.

Appellate Defender LaNelle Cantey DuRant, of Columbia, for Petitioner.

Attorney General Alan Wilson, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Attorney General Deborah R.J. Shupe, and Assistant Attorney General William M. Blitch, Jr., all of Columbia, for Respondent.

Justice KITTREDGE.

We granted a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals' decision in this matter. In re Care & Treatment of Manigo, 389 S.C. 96, 697 S.E.2d 629 (Ct.App.2010). Petitioner challenges his civil commitment to the Department of Mental Health for long-term control, care, and treatment pursuant to the Sexually Violent Predator Act (“SVPA”). Specifically, Petitioner contends that, although he has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, he is exempt from the SVPA evaluation procedure simply because his most recent offense is not explicitly designated as sexually violent. The court of appeals affirmed Petitioner's commitment, finding the language of the SVPA unambiguous and applicable to Petitioner. We affirm. ¹

I.

In 1987, Petitioner was indicted for assault with intent to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct (“CSC”) after making sexual remarks to the victim and touching the victim on her breasts and vagina and pushing her to the ground in an attempt to have sex with her. Petitioner pled guilty to the reduced charge of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Petitioner was sentenced to ten years in prison, suspended upon service of two years in prison and five years of probation. Petitioner was also sentenced to alcohol, drug, and sex counseling.

While on probation following the 1987 conviction, Petitioner was again indicted for assault with intent to commit first-degree CSC. Petitioner knocked on the victim's door, forced his way into the house, grabbed the victim, and put his hand over her mouth. A struggle ensued, during which Petitioner pulled out a knife and pulled the victim into the yard. Once in the yard, Petitioner attempted to remove the victim's nightgown and panties, but the victim fought back and eventually escaped. In February 1990, Petitioner pled guilty to the reduced charge of assault with intent to commit second-degree CSC and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. During confinement, Petitioner committed eighty-three disciplinary infractions, of which three were assaultive and fifteen were for sexual misconduct, including willfully and repeatedly exposing his penis to and masturbating in front of female correctional officers.

In 2004, prior to his release from prison, Petitioner was evaluated by the Department of Corrections multidisciplinary team, which found probable cause that Petitioner was a sexually violent predator (“SVP”). Following a hearing, the circuit court also found probable cause that Petitioner was an SVP and ordered Dr. Pam Crawford to perform a psychiatric evaluation. Petitioner was diagnosed with alcohol dependence and borderline intellectual functioning; however, regarding whether Petitioner required inpatient sex-offender treatment, Dr. Crawford concluded insufficient clinical evidence existed to support a finding that, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, Petitioner was suffering from a sexual disorder, personality disorder, or other mental abnormality that would make it likely he would re-offend.² In April 2004, the SVP petition was dismissed and Petitioner was thereafter released from prison. Following his release, Petitioner's participation in sex-offender treatment was poor and he returned to using alcohol.

In October 2005, Petitioner was arrested on four counts of indecent exposure after exposing himself, urinating and masturbating in front of the victim. The victim was an employee of SCE & G who was conducting her route near Petitioner's home on the day of the incidents. Petitioner noticed the victim, turned around, and began walking towards her. Petitioner stood in the roadway and exposed himself to the victim. The victim continued to the next home along her route, and Petitioner walked towards the victim and urinated in front of her. The victim resumed her route, and Petitioner followed her and exposed himself a third time. Thereafter, Petitioner followed the victim onto a different street, exposed himself, and masturbated in front of her. At that point, the victim called 9–1–1 and reported the incidents. Petitioner pled guilty to one count of indecent exposure and was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended upon nine months in prison and two years of probation.

Prior to his release from prison, Petitioner was again referred for proceedings pursuant to the SVPA. The multidisciplinary team and the prosecutor's review committee found probable cause to believe Petitioner was an SVP. Following a hearing, the circuit court also found probable cause that Petitioner was an SVP and ordered Dr. Crawford to perform another psychiatric evaluation.

This time, Dr. Crawford opined, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that Petitioner was dangerous and would likely commit additional sexually violent acts against women. In addition to her previous findings of alcohol dependence and borderline intellectual functioning, Dr. Crawford diagnosed Petitioner with two sexual disorders: paraphilia³ and exhibitionism.⁴

At trial, Petitioner argued he was not subject to the SVPA evaluation process because he was not presently confined for a sexually violent offense. At the time, section 44–48–40 read:

(A) When a person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, the agency with jurisdiction must give written notice ... one hundred eighty days before:

(1) the person's anticipated release from total confinement....

Petitioner argued the legislature did not intend for the SVPA to encompass all offenses, and since Petitioner was serving time for an offense not classified as sexually violent, he was not subject to the SVPA evaluation process as a matter of law. The trial court disagreed and found section 44–48–40(A) does not require the most recent offense to be classified as sexually violent, and Petitioner was subject to the SVPA. The jury found the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Petitioner is an SVP. Thereafter, Petitioner was committed to the Department of Mental Health for long-term control, care, and treatment.

Petitioner appealed, arguing the SVP evaluation process is not triggered unless a person is currently confined for a sexually violent offense. Petitioner acknowledged his 1990 CSC conviction was a sexually violent offense but argues he was evaluated following his sentence in connection with that conviction and was determined not to be an SVP. Because the 2006 indecent exposure offense was not a sexually violent offense, Petitioner argues there was no conviction to trigger the SVP evaluation process a second time.

The court of appeals, like the trial court, rejected Petitioner's challenge and found the language of the SVPA was unambiguous and did not require the current offense and sentence to be a statutorily designated sexually violent offense. Rather, the SVPA only requires that a person “ has been convicted of a sexually violent offense.” The court of appeals relied on a Virginia case,⁵ and distinguished the language of the Virginia SVPA from the language of the South Carolina SVPA.⁶ The court of appeals further relied upon the legislative intent set forth in the SVPA which demonstrated a desire to identify and treat individuals suffering from a mental abnormality to prevent future acts of sexual violence:

The General Assembly finds that a mentally abnormal and extremely dangerous group of sexually violent predators exists who require involuntary civil commitment in a secure facility for long-term control, care, and treatment. The General Assembly further finds that the likelihood these sexually violent predators will engage in repeated acts of sexual violence if not treated for their mental conditions is significant.

S.C.Code Ann. § 44–48–20 (Supp.2011).

We granted a writ of certiorari to review the court of appeals' decision.

II.

Petitioner argues the court of appeals erred because he was not subject to the SVPA since he was not confined for a sexually violent offense. Petitioner argues that, although section 44–48–40 does not use present tense language in reference to confinement, it would lead to an absurd result if a person was subjected to the SVP evaluation process during incarceration for an offense that is not designated as sexually violent. Petitioner further argues the SVPA should be construed strictly against the State pursuant to the rule of lenity.⁷ We disagree.

“Statutory interpretation is a question of law subject to de novo review.” Transp. Ins. Co. v. S.C. Second Injury Fund, 389 S.C. 422, 427, 699 S.E.2d 687, 689 (2010). “The cardinal rule of statutory construction is that the intent of the legislature must prevail if it reasonably can be discerned from the words used in the statute.” Cabiness v. Town of James Island, 393 S.C. 176, 192, 712 S.E.2d 416, 425 (2011). “These words must be construed in context and in light of the intended purpose of the statute in a manner which harmonizes with its subject matter and accords with its general purpose.” Id. (internal quotations omitted). “[I]f the language is plain and unambiguous, we must enforce the plain and clear meaning of the words used.” Id. “But if applying the plain language would lead to an absurd result, we will interpret the words in such a way as to escape the absurdity.” Id. “A merely conjectural absurdity is not enough; the result must be so patently absurd that it is clear that the General Assembly could not have intended such a result.” Id. (internal quotations omitted).

The court of appeals correctly found the language of the SVPA is...