Erickson v. Rubey , 818 N.W.2d 731 ( 2012 )

SANDSTROM, Justice.

[¶ 1] Larry Rubey appeals from a district court order denying his petition for discharge from civil commitment as a sexually dangerous individual under N.D.C.C. ch. 25-03.3. We affirm, concluding the court’s order is not based on an erroneous view of the law and the court did not err in concluding the State established by clear and convincing evidence that Rubey remained a sexually dangerous individual.

I

[¶ 2] In 1988, Rubey was convicted of gross sexual imposition and received a three-year deferred imposition of sentence. In 1999, Rubey was convicted of gross sexual imposition and two counts of corruption or solicitation of a minor. Prior to Rubey’s release from the twelve-year prison sentence, the State petitioned the court to commit him as a sexually dangerous individual. On August 5, 2010, after Ru-bey’s criminal convictions of crimes involving horrific abuse against children, the “district court found by clear and convincing evidence that Rubey [was] a sexually dangerous individual and committed him to the care, custody, and control of the executive director of the Department of Human Services under N.D.C.C. ch. 25-03.3.” In re Rubey, 2011 ND 165, ¶3, 801 N.W.2d 702 (affirming order).

[¶3] On June 14, 2011, a representative of the North Dakota State Hospital advised Rubey of his right to file an annual petition to the district court for discharge from civil commitment, and Rubey requested a discharge hearing the next day.

[¶ 4] On September 30, 2011, the district court held a hearing on Rubey’s discharge petition, and Rubey and the State each presented evidence through their own expert examiner. Prior to the discharge hearing, the court received written evaluations from Robert Lisota, Ph.D., the State’s expert examiner, and Stacey Benson, Psy.D., Rubey’s independent qualified expert examiner. At the hearing, the two experts agreed Rubey met two of the three requirements classifying him as a sexually dangerous individual under N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-13. The experts agreed Rubey, having been convicted of offenses involving sexual assault, had previously engaged in sexually predatory conduct and had a congenital or acquired condition manifested by a sexual disorder, a personality disorder, or other mental disorder or dysfunction because he had been diagnosed with “pedophilia, sexually attracted to females, non-exclusive type.” The State’s expert also diagnosed Rubey with “personality disorder not otherwise specified, antisocial and narcissistic traits.” The two experts disagreed, however, on whether Rubey was likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct and whether he had serious difficulty controlling his behavior.

[¶ 5] On October 7, 2011, after reviewing both experts’ evaluations of Rubey and weighing their testimony at the discharge hearing, the district court found the State established by clear and convincing evidence that Rubey was likely to re-offend and that he had serious difficulty controlling his behavior. As a result, the court ordered him to remain committed as a sexually dangerous individual.

[¶ 6] The district court had jurisdiction under N.D. Const. art. VI, § 8, and N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-02. Rubey timely appealed from the order under N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-19. We have jurisdiction under N.D. Const. art. VI, §§ 2 and 6, and N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-19.

II

[¶ 7] Rubey argues the district court erred in concluding the State proved by clear and convincing evidence that he remained a sexually dangerous individual under N.D.C.C. ch. 25-03.3.

[¶8] Our review of a civilly-committed, sexually dangerous individual is well-established:

We review civil commitments of sexually dangerous individuals under a modified clearly erroneous standard in which we will affirm a district court’s order “unless it is induced by an erroneous view of the law or we are firmly convinced [the order] is not supported by clear and convincing evidence.”

In re Rubey, 2011 ND 165, ¶ 5, 801 N.W.2d 702 (quoting In re T.O., 2009 ND 209, ¶ 8, 776 N.W.2d 47). Under N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-13, the burden is on the State to prove by clear and convincing evidence the respondent is a sexually dangerous individual. A “sexually dangerous individual” means:

an individual who is shown to have engaged in sexually predatory conduct and who has a congenital or acquired condition that is manifested by a sexual disorder, a personality disorder, or other mental disorder or dysfunction that makes that individual likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct which constitute a danger to the physical or mental health or safety of others.

N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-01(8). “‘The phrase “likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct” means the individual’s propensity towards sexual violence is of such a degree as to pose a threat to others.’ ” In re Rubey, 2011 ND 165, ¶ 5, 801 N.W.2d 702 (quoting Matter of E.W.F., 2008 ND 130, 1110, 751 N.W.2d 686). “Substantive due process requires proof that the individual facing commitment has serious difficulty controlling his behavior.” Id. (eiting Matter of E.W.F., at ¶ 10; Kansas v. Crane, 534 U.S. 407, 413, 122 S.Ct. 867, 151 L.Ed.2d 856 (2002)).

[¶ 9] We have opined on what constitutes sufficient findings for civil commitment decisions:

“Conclusory, general findings do not comply with N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(a), and a finding of fact that merely states a party has failed in [or has sustained] its burden of proof is inadequate under the rule. The court must specifically state the facts upon which its ultimate conclusion is based.... The purpose of the rule is to provide the appellate court with an understanding of the factual issues and the basis of the district court’s decision. Because this Court defers to a district court’s choice between two permissible views of the evidence and the district court decides issues of credibility, detailed findings are particularly important when there is conflicting or disputed evidence.”

Id. at ¶ 6 (quoting In re R.A.S., 2008 ND 185, ¶ 8, 756 N.W.2d 771) (emphasis omitted). “ ‘Detailed findings, including credibility determinations and references to evidence the court relied on in making its decision, inform the committed individual and this Court of the evidentiary basis for the court’s decision.’” Id. (quoting In re R.A.S., at ¶ 9).

[¶ 10] Rubey concedes he meets two of the three requirements classifying him as a sexually dangerous individual under N.D.C.C. § 25-03.3-13. He argues, however, the district court erred in concluding the State proved by clear and convincing evidence that he was likely to engage in future acts of sexually predatory conduct and that he had serious difficulty controlling his behavior.

[¶ 11] Rubey argues the district court ignored the results of his expert’s Minnesota Sexual Offender Screening Tool-Revised (“MnSOST-R”) assessment of him, which differed from the results of the State’s expert’s assessment. Rubey argues his expert’s assessment showed a lesser likelihood of his engaging in future sexually predatory conduct, especially when he reached the age of sixty, which, at the time, was only months away. Rubey argues his expert concluded his test scores put him in a category of a “typical incarcerated offender,” which meant he was a typical offender, but not a dangerous offender. See Crane, 534 U.S. at 413, 122 S.Ct. 867 (distinguishing a dangerous sexual offender “whose serious mental illness, abnormality, or disorder subjects him to civil commitment from the dangerous but typical recidivist convicted in an ordinary criminal case”).

[¶ 12] Rubey also argues the district court erred in concluding he had serious difficulty controlling his behavior. He argues the State did not present any evidence showing he had serious difficulty controlling his behavior, nor did it provide any records from the state penitentiary or the state hospital evidencing problems with his ability to control his behavior.

[¶ 13] The State responds its expert diagnosed Rubey with an additional acquired condition that the expert originally was unable to diagnose because of Rubey’s lack of cooperation. The State’s expert found Rubey suffered from antisocial and narcissistic traits, adding to his original diagnosis of pedophilia, sexually attracted to females, non-exclusive type. The State also argues Rubey failed to remain in sex offender treatment, evidenced by his quitting treatment and by the resulting termination of his treatment. The State further argues that when its expert asked Rubey what he believed the likelihood would be of his re-offending, on a scale from zero to ten, Rubey replied “zero.” The State’s expert testified Rubey lacked insight into his condition, because all offenders pose at least some risk of re-offending.

[¶ 14] After reviewing both experts’ reports and hearing them testimony, the district court found:

The experts agree that Rubey meets two of the three prongs set out in N.D.C.C. 25-03.3-13 — (1) that Rubey previously engaged in sexually predatory conduct in that he had been convicted of offenses involving sexual assault and (2) that Rubey has a congenital or acquired condition manifested by a sexual disorder, a personality disorder, or other mental disorder or dysfunction, specifically that he has had a diagnosis of Pedophelia, Sexually Attracted to Females, Nonexclusive Type. Dr. Lisota added a further diagnosis of Personality Disorder NOS, Antisocial, Narcissistic. Dr. Lisota testified that he had been unable to reach the latter diagnosis originally because he had been unable to interview Rubey. Dr. Benson testified that she did not have sufficient evidence for such a diagnosis.

The experts disagreed on prong three of N.D.C.C. 25-03.3-13 — whether Rubey is likely to engage in further acts of sexually predatory conduct. The experts also disagree on a fourth factor required by appellate courts but not found in the statute, that being whether Rubey has serious difficulty in controlling his behavior. See, In Re: G.R.H., 2011 [ND] 21, 793 N.W.2d 460.

Dr. Lisota[, the State’s expert,] based his opinion regarding whether Rubey is likely to re-offend on the results of actu-ai'ial assessments including the Statie-99R, the MnSOST-R, and the PCL-R. He further based his opinion on Rubey’s history of illegal behavior, lack of remorse, impulsiveness, and the added diagnosis of personality disorder. He based his opinion regarding Rubey’s difficulty in controlling his behavior in large part on Rubey’s failure to progress in treatment. Much discussion was had at the hearing as to whether Rubey quit or was terminated from treatment at the state penitentiary. It appears he was terminated because he quit. Dr. Liso-ta’s opinion is that the lack of progress in or completion of treatment would make relapse prevention more difficult. Dr. Lisota also gave weight in both his conclusions on likelihood of re-offending and lack of control to the fact that Ru-bey stated his likelihood of re-offending was zero. Dr. Lisota opined that this statement shows a lack of insight in that all sex offenders have at least some risk of re-offense and that Rubey’s lack of insight, coupled with his failure to complete treatment, contributed to his likelihood of re-offending. Dr. Lisota stated that the latter opinion is based on the fact that pedophelia cannot be cured, but that an offender can learn to curb impulses through successive stages of treatment. Rubey is still in the first stage of treatment and has made little progress.

Dr. Lisota’s report included notes from the treatment Rubey is in currently at the state hospital. While individual passages may support Rubey’s position that he is progressing in treatment, a reading of all the notes together supports Dr. Lisota’s conclusion that Rubey is resistant, in denial, and doing “just enough to get by.”

Finally, Dr. Lisota noted that Rubey began to offend in his early thirties and has not been able to control his behavior for significant time periods when not incarcerated.

Dr. Benson[, Rubey’s expert,] based her opinions entirely on the actuarial instruments. She did not find a diagnosis of personality disorder, which diagnosis Dr. Lisota found to be a significant factor both as to risk of re-offending and difficulty in controlling behavior. Dr. Benson did not do a PCL-R, but agreed with Dr. Lisota’s scoring and interpretation of the score.

The Court finds Dr. Lisota’s opinions more persuasive than Dr. Benson’s because he looked at and applied more than just the actuarial instruments in forming his opinions and drawing his conclusions.

The Court finds that the State has established by clear and convincing evidence that Rubey is likely to re-offend and that he has serious difficulty in controlling his behavior, and that therefore he remains a sexually dangerous individual.

[¶ 15] A review of the district court order shows it based its decision to deny Rubey’s motion for discharge on specific findings after it found the State’s expert to be “more persuasive” than Ru-bey’s. “This Court does not weigh conflicting evidence, nor does it judge the credibility of the witnesses.” State v. Klindtworth, 2005 ND 18, ¶ 8, 691 N.W.2d 284. The court found Rubey suffered from antisocial and narcissistic traits, an additional acquired condition the State’s expert diagnosed during his evaluation of Rubey but was unable to diagnose at Ru-bey’s initial civil commitment hearing because of Rubey’s lack of cooperation. The expert’s diagnosis of the acquired condition added to Rubey’s initial diagnosis of pedophilia, sexually attracted to females, nonexclusive type. The court also found Ru-bey failed to progress in treatment and was terminated from the program because he first quit the program. As further evidence of Rubey’s lack of progress in treatment, the court found Rubey lacked insight into his condition, because he told the State’s expert that the likelihood of his re-offending was “zero” on a scale of zero to ten. The State’s expert testified that all offenders have at least some risk of re-offending. The court also found Rubey failed to control his behavior for significant periods of time while he was not incarcerated.

[¶ 16] The district court’s finding that Rubey was likely to engage in future acts of sexually predatory conduct and had serious difficulty controlling his behavior is supported by the evidence and is not clearly erroneous. We conclude the court’s order is not based on an erroneous view of the law, and we are convinced the court’s order is supported by clear and convincing evidence. We therefore conclude the court did not clearly err in finding the State established by clear and convincing evidence that Rubey remains a sexually dangerous individual under N.D.C.C. ch. 25-03.8.

Ill

[¶ 17] We affirm the district court order.

[¶ 18] GERALD W. VANDE WALLE, C.J., DANIEL J. CROTHERS, and MARY MUEHLEN MARING, JJ., concur.