In Re the Detention of David L. Taft Jr. David L. Taft Jr.

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 15-1732
Filed March 22, 2017

IN RE THE DETENTION OF
DAVID L. TAFT JR.

DAVID L. TAFT JR.
Respondent-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Linn County, Lars G. Anderson,

Judge.

Respondent, who was civilly committed as a sexually violent predator,

appeals a jury’s verdict finding he was not suitable for discharge or placement in

a transitional release program. AFFIRMED.

Philip B. Mears of Mears Law Office, Iowa City, for appellant.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, and Kevin Cmelik and Linda J. Hines,

Assistant Attorneys General, for appellee.

Heard by Mullins, P.J., and Bower and McDonald, JJ.
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BOWER, Judge.

David Taft Jr., who was civilly committed as a sexually violent predator,

appeals a jury’s verdict finding he was not suitable for discharge or placement in

a transitional release program. We find the jury was properly instructed on the

State’s burden of proof, the preconditions for placement in the transitional

release program, and the necessity of an approved release prevention plan. We

affirm the decision of the district court.

I. Background Facts & Proceedings

In 1987, Taft was charged with lascivious acts with a minor and other

sexual offenses. He was convicted of the offenses and sentenced to prison. Taft

was discharged in May 1991. A few days after his release, he entered a home

where two girls, ages nine and ten, were home alone and sexually assaulted one

of the girls and attempted to assault the other. See State v. Taft (Taft I), 506

N.W.2d 757, 759 (Iowa 1993). Taft was convicted of sexual abuse in the second

degree, burglary in the first degree, and assault causing bodily injury. Id. at 763.

When Taft was discharged from prison in 2005, the State filed a petition

alleging he should be committed as a sexually violent predator under Iowa Code

chapter 299A (2005). A jury found he suffered from a mental abnormality, which

made it more likely than not he would reoffend, and he was committed to the civil

commitment unit for sexual offenders. See Taft v. Iowa Dist. Ct. (Taft II), 828

N.W.2d 309, 311 (Iowa 2013). In this program, there is an annual review to

determine whether the committed person should be discharged or placed in a

transitional release program. Id. at 313. There is a rebuttable presumption in

favor of extending civil commitment. Id. (citing Iowa Code § 229A.8(1)). A
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committed person is entitled to a final hearing if, based on a consideration of all

the evidence, the court finds the person has shown by a preponderance of the

relevant and reliable evidence a hearing should be held to determine whether the

person’s mental abnormality has changed so the person is not likely to reoffend.

Id. at 318.

After Taft’s 2013 annual review, the district court denied his request for a

final hearing. Taft petitioned for certiorari, claiming sections 229A.8A(2)(d) and

(e) were unconstitutional. See Taft v. Iowa Dist. Ct. (Taft III), 879 N.W.2d 634,

638 (Iowa 2016). Our supreme court determined the issue was not ripe for

adjudication, noting Taft had been denied a final hearing for reasons other than

those presented in sections 229A.8A(2)(d) and (e). Id. at 639 (“Even assuming

arguendo we determined the challenged criteria violate Taft’s substantive due

process liberty rights, such a determination would not have any effect on the

district court’s determination at the annual review.”).

While Taft III, was pending, on February 25, 2015, the district court

granted Taft’s request for a final hearing, pursuant to section 229A.8(6), after his

2014 annual review.1 The final hearing was held in September 2015. The

State’s expert, Dr. Stacey Hoem, a psychologist, testified she believed Taft was

more likely than not to reoffend. She also testified Taft did not qualify for

transitional release under section 229A.8A because he did not have an adequate

relapse prevention plan and he recently had three disciplinary reports. Taft

1
Before the final hearing on the 2014 annual review was held, the 2015 annual review
was filed. Taft requested the 2015 annual review be subject to separate proceedings to
determine whether he was entitled to a final hearing based on the 2015 annual review.
The district court noted evidence of Taft’s current circumstances was relevant, but the
hearing did not specifically address the 2015 annual review.
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presented the testimony of Dr. Craig Rypma, a psychologist who stated Taft was

not likely to reoffend and his relapse prevention plan was adequate. The jury

returned a verdict finding Taft’s mental abnormality had not changed so he was

not suitable for discharge and he was not suitable for placement in the

transitional release program. Taft now appeals.

II. Standard of Review

Our review in this detention matter is for the correction of errors at law.

See In re Det. of Shaffer, 769 N.W.2d 169, 172 (Iowa 2009). To the extent

constitutional issues are raised, however, our review is de novo in light of the

totality of the circumstances. See In re Det. of Matlock, 860 N.W.2d 898, 901

(Iowa 2015).

III. Jury Instructions

A. Taft claims the instructions impermissibly allowed the State to

prove Taft was dangerous by a preponderance of the evidence. The jury was

given the following instructions:

No. 10 In order to prove that the Respondent is not suitable
for discharge, the State must prove that the Respondent’s mental
abnormality remains such that he is likely to engage in predatory
acts that constitute sexually violent offenses if he is discharged.
....
No. 13 As used in these Instructions, the term “likely to
engage in predatory acts constituting sexually violent offenses”
means that the person more likely than not will engage in acts
constituting sexually violent offenses. The word “likely” means that
a proposition is more probably true than not.
You are instructed that at the time of Respondent’s
commitment in 2005, it was determined that he was likely to
engage in predatory acts constituting sexually violent offenses if not
confined in a secure facility.
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The instructions also stated, “Whenever I instruct you that the State must prove a

proposition, it must do so by evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Taft claims the phrase “more likely than not,” is a preponderance of the

evidence standard. He points out the United States Supreme Court stated in

Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 427 (1979), a state must justify confinement in

civil commitment proceedings “by proof more substantial than a mere

preponderance of the evidence.” Taft claims the district court should have given

the jury his proposed instruction on the State’s burden of proof.

Under section 229A.8(6)(d)(1), in a final hearing the State has the burden

to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, “The committed person’s mental

abnormality remains such that the person is likely to engage in predatory acts

that constitute sexually violent offenses if discharged.” The phrase “[l]ikely to

engage in predatory acts of sexual violence,” “means that the person more likely

than not will engage in acts of a sexually violent nature.” Iowa Code § 229A.2(5).

A similar issue was addressed by the Iowa Supreme Court in In re

Detention of Williams, 628 N.W.2d 447, 458 (Iowa 2001), where the court

considered whether the State’s burden of proof to show a person “more likely

than not” would engage in acts of a sexually violent nature, improperly reduced

the State’s burden, contrary to due process. Our court agreed with a Washington

case, which “reasoned that because Washington requires the highest standard of

proof [beyond a reasonable doubt], ‘the term “likely” can be given its ordinary

meaning without the risk of falling below the constitutionally required minimum of

clear and convincing evidence.’” Williams, 628 N.W.2d at 458 (quoting In re Det.

of Brooks, 973 P.2d 486, 491 (Wash. 1999)). The supreme court noted Iowa,
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like Washington, requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. at 458-59. The

court stated:

We thus conclude that defining the statutory term “likely” as
“more likely than not” or “more probable than not” will not diminish
the required high level of proof. The instruction given by the district
court not only comports with the statutory definition, due process
requires nothing more. Williams’s argument to the contrary is
without merit.

Id. at 459.

We conclude Taft has not shown the jury was improperly instructed on the

State’s burden of proof.

B. Taft claims the instruction setting forth the preconditions for

placement in the transitional release program was confusing, contradictory, and

unconstitutional.

Instruction No. 8 provided:

To prove that Respondent is not suitable for transfer to a
transitional release program, the State must prove that the
Respondent’s mental abnormality has not improved to the point that
he is appropriate for transfer to a transitional release program. The
Respondent is appropriate for transfer to a transitional release
program only if he satisfies all of the following criteria:
(1) The Respondent’s mental abnormality is no longer
such that the person is a high risk to reoffend.
(2) The Respondent has achieved and demonstrated
significant insights into his sex offending cycle.
(3) The Respondent has accepted responsibility for his
past behavior and understands the impact sexually violent crimes
have upon victims.
(4) A detailed relapse prevention plan has been
developed and accepted by the treatment provider which is
appropriate for the Respondent’s mental abnormality and sex
offending history.
(5) No major discipline reports have been issued for the
Respondent for a period of six months.
(6) The Respondent is not likely to escape or attempt to
escape custody if placed in a transitional release program.
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(7) The Respondent is not likely to engage in predatory
acts constituting sexually violent offenses while in the program.
(8) The placement is in the Respondent’s best interest.
(9) The Respondent has demonstrated a willingness to
agree to and abide by all rules of the program.
(10) The Respondent has agreed to register as a sex
offender.
If you find from the evidence that the State has proved that
the Respondent does not satisfy any one or more of these criteria,
then the Respondent is not suitable for transfer in a transitional
release program.
If, however, the State has failed to prove that the
Respondent does not meet any one or more of these criteria, then
the Respondent is suitable for transfer to a transitional release
program.

1. Taft objected to the language in paragraph 1, providing he was

eligible for the transitional release program only if “his mental abnormality is no

longer such that the person is a high risk to reoffend.” He states the term “high

risk” is not defined and was confusing. “We review jury instructions to determine

if they are correct statements of the law and are supported by substantial

evidence.” State v. Scalise, 660 N.W.2d 58, 64 (Iowa 2003). “In our review, we

read all of the instructions together, not piecemeal or in artificial isolation.” Id.

Paragraph 1 follows the language of section 229A.8A(2)(a) and, therefore,

is a correct statement of the law. Looking at the jury instructions as a whole, we

determine the use of the term “high risk” is not confusing, particularly when

considered in conjunction with instruction No. 11, which defines the term “mental

abnormality” as “a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or

volitional capacity and predisposing the person to commit a sexually violent

offenses to a degree that causes the person serious difficulty in controlling his

behavior.” Looking at the instructions as a whole, we conclude the court did not

err in giving this instruction.
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2. Taft objected to paragraph 4, claiming he had submitted a relapse

prevention plan, which had been approved by his therapist, Bill Reese. See Iowa

Code § 229A.8A(2)(d). At the time Taft was requesting a final hearing, the State

agreed “the approval of the plan moots the claim that [Taft] is currently

disqualified based on the portion of the transitional release criteria set forth in

[section] 229A.8A(2)(d).” During the final hearing, the State presented evidence

to show Reese had not properly approved the relapse prevention plan. Taft

claims the issue of whether he had an adequate relapse prevention plan should

not have been submitted to the jury based on the State’s earlier agreement he

had an approved relapse prevention plan.

At the final hearing, the State argued its earlier agreement was only for the

purposes of determining whether Taft was entitled to a final hearing. At an

annual review hearing, “[t]he burden is on the committed person to prove by a

preponderance of the evidence that there is relevant and reliable evidence to

rebut the presumption of continued commitment, which would lead a reasonable

person to believe a final hearing should be held to determine,” if the person

should be discharged or placed in a transitional release program. Iowa Code

§ 229A.8(5)(e)(1). “This standard for determining whether a final hearing is

required is satisfied if a reasonable person would find, from the relevant and

reliable evidence presented at the annual review stage, that the committed

person has more likely than not generated a fact question on either of the issues

enumerated in section 229A.8(5)(e)(1)(a) or (b).” Taft II, 828 N.W.2d at 318.

On the other hand, at the final hearing the State has the burden to prove

beyond a reasonable doubt (1) “[t]he committed person’s mental abnormality
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remains such that the person is likely to engage in predatory acts that constitute

sexually violent offenses if discharged” or (2) “[t]he committed person is not

suitable for placement in a transitional release program pursuant to section

229A.8A.” Iowa Code § 229A.8(6)(d).

Thus, at the earlier proceeding Taft had the burden to show by a

preponderance of the evidence a final hearing should be held. At the final

hearing, however, the State had the burden to show beyond a reasonable doubt

Taft should continue to be committed. We conclude the district court did not err

in finding the State’s agreement Taft met the requirement in section

229A.8A(2)(d), for purposes of determining whether he was entitled to a final

hearing, did not mean the State agreed it had shown beyond a reasonable doubt

Taft had not fulfilled the requirement to show he had developed an approved

relapse prevention plan.

3. Paragraph 5 provides, “No major discipline reports have been

issued for the Respondent for a period of six months.” This provision follows

section 229A.8A(2)(e). Taft claimed the issue should not be submitted to the jury

because he did not have a major discipline report for a period of six months.

We determine there are two separate six-month periods. As discussed

above, the process to obtain a final hearing is separate from the actual final

hearing—there is a bifurcated process. For the first part, Taft did not have a

major discipline report for the six-month period before the district court ruled he

was entitled to a final hearing. Some period of time went by before the final

hearing was held. In order to meet the second part, pursuant to section

229A.8A(2)(e), Taft would need to show he did not have a major discipline report
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in the six-month period before the final hearing. Taft testified he had six major

discipline reports in 2015, three of them arising between May and the final

hearing in September. We conclude the district court did not err in submitting

this issue to the jury.

4. During the discussions concerning Instruction No. 8, counsel for

Taft mentioned arguments concerning the constitutionality of section

229A.8A(2)(d) and (e) were pending before the Iowa Supreme Court in Taft III,

879 N.W.2d at 638-39. Taft raised the same arguments in the present

proceedings. The district court overruled the objections to Instruction No. 8 but

did not specifically address Taft’s constitutional issues. We conclude Taft has

not preserved error on his constitutional arguments concerning paragraphs 4 and

5 of Instruction No. 8 because the district court did not rule on the issue. See

State v. Mitchell, 757 N.W.2d 431, 435 (Iowa 2008) (“Generally, we will only

review an issue raised on appeal if it was first presented to and ruled on by the

district court.”).

IV. Evidentiary Ruling

Taft claims the district court abused its discretion by permitting the State to

present evidence to show he did not have an adequate relapse prevention plan.

He again points out the State agreed he had an approved relapse prevention

plan at the time Taft was requesting a final hearing. Taft claims the district court

should have ruled the State was precluded from presenting evidence to show his

relapse prevention plan was inadequate. We review a court’s evidentiary rulings

for an abuse of discretion. In re Det. of Blaise, 830 N.W.2d 310, 315 (Iowa

2013).
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For the reasons discussed above concerning the applicability of the

State’s agreement to the final hearing, we determine the district court did not

abuse its discretion in permitting the State to present evidence during the final

hearing to show Taft did not have an adequate relapse prevention plan, as

required by section 229A.8A(2)(d).

We affirm the decision of the district court.

AFFIRMED.