People v. Sobonya CA6 ( 2021 )

Filed 6/25/21 P. v. Sobonya CA6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or
ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for
purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE, H047112
(Santa Cruz County
Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. ME000057)
v.
JACK STEVEN SOBONYA,
Defendant and Appellant.
A jury found appellant Jack Steven Sobonya to be a sexually violent predator
within the meaning of the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVPA) (Welf. & Inst. Code,
§ 6600 et seq.), and he was committed to the Department of State Hospitals for an
indeterminate term.1 On appeal, Sobonya argues that the trial court should have
dismissed the petition to commit him as a sexually violent predator because he was not in
lawful custody when the petition was filed, his trial counsel rendered ineffective
assistance by failing to timely object to expert testimony about a diagnosis of sexual
sadism, and his indeterminate commitment violates his right to federal and state due
process of law, double jeopardy, and the ex post facto clause. As we explain, we find no
merit in Sobonya’s contentions and affirm the judgment.
1
Further unspecified statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
I. BACKGROUND
A. Sobonya’s Commitment to Prison and the SVP petition
On January 19, 2012, Sobonya was sentenced by the Santa Cruz County Superior
Court to nine years in prison for one count of sale of a controlled substance (Health &
Saf. Code, § 11352, subd. (a)(1)) and two counts of sale of marijuana (Health & Saf.
Code, § 11360, subd. (a)(2)).
On May 7, 2015, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office filed a petition
for Sobonya’s commitment as a sexually violent predator (SVP) under the SVPA (§ 6600
et seq.). The petition was based on Sobonya’s two 1995 convictions for committing lewd
or lascivious acts on a child under 14 years of age (Pen. Code, § 288a) and a conviction
for kidnapping (Pen. Code, § 207) and was supported by the evaluations of two
psychologists, Dr. Siobhan Donovan and Dr. Roudabeh Rahbar, who determined that
Sobonya met the criteria of an SVP as described in section 6600, subdivision (a).2
B. The Demurrer to the Petition
On June 18, 2015, Sobonya’s trial counsel filed a demurrer to Santa Cruz
County’s SVP petition, arguing that it was defective on its face because Sobonya was not
in lawful custody when it was filed. According to the demurrer, Sobonya was scheduled
to be released from custody for his Santa Cruz County substance abuse offenses on
2
The Santa Cruz County petition alleged that Sobonya qualified as an SVP based
on his two convictions for committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under the age
of 14 (Pen. Code, § 288a) and did not mention his conviction for kidnapping (Pen. Code,
§ 207). The petition, however, incorporated by reference the evaluations prepared by
Dr. Donovan and Dr. Rahbar. The two evaluations listed Sobonya’s conviction for
kidnapping (Pen. Code, § 207) as a qualifying offense under the SVPA. Dr. Donovan’s
evaluation also listed a conviction of Penal Code section 311.4 as a qualifying offense,
but a violation of Penal Code section 311.4 is not a sexually violent offense as defined
under section 6600, subdivision (b).
2
March 19, 2015, nearly two months before the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s
Office filed its SVP petition.
The People opposed the demurrer and argued that a timely SVP petition had been
initially filed in Ventura County on March 13, 2015, when Sobonya was still in custody,
Sobonya did not complain about venue when the Ventura County petition was filed, and
even if Sobonya was not in lawful custody when the Santa Cruz County petition was
subsequently filed, Sobonya’s unlawful custody was the result of a good faith mistake of
fact or law as described under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2).
After considering the parties’ arguments, the trial court denied Sobonya’s
demurrer and concluded that either the Ventura County petition was valid and timely
filed, or the Ventura County petition was invalid but Sobonya’s unlawful custody was the
result of a good faith mistake under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2).
C. The Probable Cause Hearing
On April 27, 2016, the trial court held a hearing and determined that there was
probable cause to believe that Sobonya was likely to engage in sexually violent predatory
behavior upon his release (§ 6602, subd. (a)) and set the matter for a trial.
D. The Trial
1. The Prosecution’s Case
a. Sobonya’s Sexual Offenses
In 1992, when Sobonya was around 42 years old, he kidnapped a three-year old
girl, A., who was playing on her front lawn. Sobonya pulled his car over and told A. that
he would show her a squirt gun if she went into his car. Afterwards, Sobonya drove A.
over to his mother’s house, took off A.’s clothes, and touched “his bottom on her
bottom.” Sobonya rubbed lotion over A.’s genitals and put his penis in her mouth.
Sobonya then dropped A. off in a different neighborhood. A.’s mother, R.G., testified
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that she remembered that A. was scared and crying after she was found. Sobonya was
later convicted of kidnapping A. Sobonya and A. had no prior relationship.
In 1992, Sobonya was arrested after he approached a four-year-old girl and a
five-year-old girl in an alleyway. Sobonya drove up to the two girls in a truck that had a
sign that said “Free Kittens.” Sobonya told one of the girls that he wanted one of them
first, and he would come back for the other girl. There were witnesses near the alleyway
who were able to intervene before anything could happen. Inside the truck was a surgical
glove and a toy.
Also in 1992, Sobonya was arrested for prostitution after he offered to pay an
undercover police officer $10 to orally copulate him.
In 1993, Sobonya lived with S.W.’s mother. S.W. was 14 years old at the time.
Sobonya regularly made comments to S.W. about the size of his penis, offered to show
S.W. a tattoo on his penis, and made comments about S.W.’s body and wanting to have
sex with her. Sobonya told S.W. about having sex with a 15-year-old girl and described
it as “a lot of fun.” S.W. repeatedly told Sobonya to stop making these kinds of
statements. Sometimes Sobonya made inappropriate comments in front of his girlfriend,
D., who lived behind S.W.’s mother’s house. S.W. recalled that Sobonya was very
friendly with her younger sister, C.
In 1994, Sobonya and D. were friends with B.’s mother. B. testified that he was
nine years old at the time, and his sister T. was approximately two years older than him.
B. recalled that Sobonya filmed him and his sister while they ate big popsicles. Sobonya
told B. and his sister how to eat the popsicles and directed them to “go deeper, to lick the
tip.” Sobonya filmed B. eating popsicles twice, once outside in Sobonya’s truck and
another time close to B.’s house. B. also recalled an incident in 1994 where Sobonya was
supposed to take him fishing. Instead of going fishing, Sobonya took B. to a motel.
When they were inside the motel, Sobonya brought out a video camera, a blonde wig, and
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a dildo. Sobonya placed the camera on a dresser and recorded B. sucking on the dildo
while wearing the wig. Afterwards, Sobonya asked B. to massage him.
In 1995, Sobonya was convicted for some of the offenses that he committed
between 1992 and 1994, including the qualifying sexual offenses of kidnapping A. (Pen.
Code, § 207) and two counts of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under the
age of 14 for the acts involving B. (Pen. Code, § 288a), and he received a sentence of
17 years 8 months.
In 2005, Sobonya was charged with around 25 offenses for sexually assaulting
S.W.’s sister, C. Sobonya had videotaped and photographed himself sexually assaulting
C., and he later buried the videos in the backyard of the house that he was living in
sometime around 1993. S.W. testified that C. was around four years old in 1993. The
videos and photographs were found approximately 10 years later. The charges against
Sobonya were dismissed after C. died in a car accident.
By stipulation, the jury heard descriptions of the contents of the videos and
photographs of Sobonya’s assaults against C. The pictures that were found depicted C.
naked in various sexual positions. The videos showed Sobonya forcing C. to orally
copulate him, Sobonya orally copulating C.’s vagina and anus, Sobonya digitally
penetrating C., and Sobonya penetrating C.’s vagina with his penis. C. is heard on the
video saying, “ ‘I don’t want to do it,’ ” and she “ ‘doesn’t feel good.’ ” In one of the
videos, C. walks away, and Sobonya is heard ordering her to “ ‘get back over there.’ ”
In 2004, Sobonya was admitted to Atascadero State Hospital as a mentally
disordered offender. In 2006, he purposefully brushed both of his arms against the
breasts of a female staff member. In 2007, he had a “persecutory perception and
accusatory behavior with female staff.”
5
Sobonya was at Atascadero State Hospital until 2008, when he was determined to
be no longer dangerous and released into the community. Sobonya was homeless after he
was released.
In 2010, Henry Donnelly worked in Santa Cruz and often walked by the beach on
his way to work. One day, a woman at his work told Donnelly, “ ‘You have a convicted
child molester living in the parking lot.’ ” Donnelly saw Sobonya looking from a cliff at
children participating in the Little Guards and Junior Guards program. Donnelly called
the police and reported what he saw. Several weeks later, Donnelly saw Sobonya
speaking to a woman who had three children, and Donnelly called the police again.
Also in 2010, Juan Cuevas Badilla met Sobonya while waiting for parking spots
near a beach that he frequented. Badilla later learned that Sobonya was a sex offender,
and he distanced himself from Sobonya and tried to avoid having conversations with him.
In August 2010, Badilla noticed that Sobonya was parked at the beach and was taking
either pictures or videos of a mother and her two young children getting out of their
wetsuits. Badilla estimated that the children were around five years old. Badilla went to
the police station and filed a report. Nothing happened to Sobonya after Badilla made the
police report. Eventually, Badilla cooperated with police officers, wore a wire, and
purchased drugs from Sobonya, which led to his arrest for several substance abuse
offenses.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Mark Yanez searched a storage
locker used by Sobonya after he made the drug sale to Badilla. Inside the locker,
Sergeant Yanez found marijuana, scales, and some other items. Sergeant Yanez also
searched Sobonya’s car. Sergeant Yanez found a Palm cell phone that had a video of a
girl changing out of her wetsuit. The video was approximately a minute long, and
Sergeant Yanez believed that the girl in the video was between 11 and 14 years old.
6
In 2010, Katrina Rogers was a police officer with the Santa Cruz County Police
Department and was the lead investigator assigned to Sobonya’s case. Officer Rogers
spoke with Badilla about his complaint about Sobonya’s conduct. A three-week
investigation, which included surveillance, was launched following Badilla’s complaint,
but aside from the video recovered on Sobonya’s phone, Officer Rogers did not find
evidence that Sobonya had committed any other sexual offense.
b. Dr. Donovan’s Testimony
Dr. Donovan testified as an expert in the field of psychology, psychiatry, and
sexually violent predators. She diagnosed Sobonya with pedophilic disorder and
antisocial personality disorder. A person with a pedophilic disorder has, over a period of
at least six months, “sexual fantasies, behaviors, urges of prepubescent children” and acts
on “those fantasies, urges,” which causes “interpersonal difficulty.” Dr. Donovan opined
that Sobonya had “pedophilic disorder, nonexclusive, attracted to both” because his
victims were both male and female. Dr. Donovan explained that a person with antisocial
personality disorder has a pervasive pattern of violating others’ rights. According to
Dr. Donovan, research showed that having both antisocial personality disorder and
pedophilic disorder results in a “big increase in recidivism.” A person with both
disorders has “no remorse for their actions” and does not “care about any consequences.”
Dr. Donovan wrote several reports for Sobonya’s case. Her most recent report
was prepared on April 30, 2019, several months before Sobonya’s trial. In preparation
for this report, Dr. Donovan reviewed records from Sobonya’s prison file, prison medical
file, and Department of State Hospitals file. Dr. Donovan interviewed Sobonya in 2015,
but he declined to be interviewed in 2019.
Dr. Donovan opined that Sobonya’s kidnapping offense placed him in the
“extremely high” spectrum of dangerousness because “the majority of offenders aren’t
plucking children off of their front lawn as they play” and usually have some sort of
7
relationship with their victims. The fact that A. was a stranger spoke to Sobonya’s
impulsiveness and inability to control his behavior. With respect to the offenses against
B. and T., Dr. Donovan opined that Sobonya “established a relationship with [B.] in order
to sexually offend against [him].”
Dr. Donovan read a narrative report that summarized the contents of the video
showing Sobonya’s sexual assaults against C. and watched the first minute of the video.
Dr. Donovan characterized Sobonya’s behavior as “extreme deviant sexual behavior.”
After considering the sexual assaults involving C., Dr. Donovan opined that she would
“really strongly consider an additional diagnosis of sexual sadism” for Sobonya.
Dr. Donovan referred to the narrative report of the video as “truly one of the worst things
I’ve ever read.”
Dr. Donovan found Sobonya’s behavior in 2010, where he watched and
videotaped minors, “clinically significant to suggest that he still has these deviant
sexual . . . interests in children, which makes him . . . a serious and well-founded risk.”
Dr. Donovan also testified that in 2010, Sobonya was associating with another registered
sex offender.
In 2015, Dr. Donovan interviewed Sobonya, and Sobonya recounted that when he
was 12 years old, he gave a three-year-old child a bath and touched the child in a lewd
and lascivious manner. Sobonya denied that he kidnapped A. When asked about the
offenses involving B. and T., Sobonya denied penetrating the children and said, “ ‘I left
the video at home when I went surfing. The mother found the dildo.’ ” Sobonya also
said, “ ‘I was so screwed up on coke, I went crazy.’ ” When asked about the incidents
involving C., Sobonya said, “ ‘I filmed a three-year-old who is dead giving me head.’ ”
Dr. Donovan believed that Sobonya’s deviant sexual interests and his lack of remorse for
his actions spoke to his overall pathology to violate children.
8
Sobonya attributed his actions between 1992 and 1994 to his cocaine use.
Sobonya had a substance abuse problem, and he started using cocaine when he was
17 years old. Sobonya, however, told Dr. Donovan that he last used cocaine in 1992.
During a drug group session, Sobonya said that he had been clean and sober since 1993.
These statements were inconsistent with Sobonya’s assertion that he had been using
cocaine when he committed the offenses against B. and T. in 1994. Dr. Donovan opined
that cocaine did not drive Sobonya’s deviant sexual interests and that there are “plenty of
people that use cocaine and don’t go out and—sexually offend against kids.”
Dr. Donovan reviewed Sobonya’s criminal history, which began when he was
15 years old and committed drug offenses. Sobonya had a history of recidivism, and he
had repeated arrests and offenses that showed deceitfulness and a disregard for the safety
of other people. Starting in 1973, when he was 23 years old, Sobonya committed crimes
like credit card fraud and check fraud.
Dr. Donovan also testified about Sobonya’s social history. Sobonya identified as a
heterosexual and denied that he had a sexual interest in children. When describing his
family life, Sobonya said that he was a “ ‘screw-up,’ ” and he often got into trouble as a
child for cutting classes. Sobonya had an unstable work history, and the longest job that
he ever held was for two years. Sobonya once worked as a janitor at an elementary
school, which Dr. Donovan found concerning because it gave him access to children.
Sobonya had one significant relationship with a woman named D. He married D. in 1993
and divorced her in 2001. Sobonya had two children with D. Dr. Donovan opined that
Sobonya’s age—69 years at the time of trial—did not have an effect on his pedophilic
interests.
Dr. Donovan discussed Sobonya’s past treatment for his disorders. Sobonya was
sent to Coalinga State Hospital in 2015 or 2016. In 2017, Sobonya regularly attended a
self-regulation group and attended a drug group. Sobonya attended the first day of a
9
“behavior in change or thinking group,” but he subsequently left. Dr. Donovan spoke to
Sobonya’s treating psychologist, and the psychologist said that Sobonya did not interact
with him, and although Sobonya attended groups, he did not want to be there and did not
actively participate. Sobonya told the treating psychologist that he wanted to return to
the community, he was not a pedophile, and he had already completed treatment at
Atascadero State Hospital. In 2019, Dr. Donovan called Coalinga Sate Hospital and
received updates about Sobonya. At the time, Dr. Donovan was told that Sobonya
participated actively and independently in groups.
Dr. Donovan opined that Sobonya’s pedophilic disorder and antisocial personality
disorder caused volitional impairment, resulting in the commission of sexual crimes.
Furthermore, Sobonya had a “serious and well-founded risk . . . of sexual reoffense.”
Dr. Donovan gave Sobonya a score of seven on the Static-99, which is “well above
average risk.”3
c. Dr. Rahbar’s Testimony
Dr. Rahbar reviewed Sobonya’s prison records, state hospitalization records,
probation records, and arrest reports. Dr. Rahbar opined that Sobonya had proper
qualifying offenses, a diagnosable mental disorder, and there was a well-founded risk that
he would reoffend if released into the community. Dr. Rahbar diagnosed Sobonya with
pedophilic disorder, nonexclusive type, sexually attracted to females.
Dr. Rahbar reviewed Sobonya’s criminal history, including the offenses involving
A., the offenses involving S.W. and C., and the offenses involving B. and T. Dr. Rahbar
concluded that Sobonya’s behaviors showed that he had a “pattern of arousal and a
3
Dr. Donovan testified that the Static-99 is a tool used to evaluate risk of
recidivism and considers various factors including a person’s age at release, whether the
person has lived with someone or has been single, whether the person had a nonsexual
violent offense, and whether the person had a prior sex offense.
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pattern of sexual desire towards prepubescent young female children.” Dr. Rahbar met
with Sobonya once, but Sobonya denied subsequent interview requests. During his one
meeting with Dr. Rahbar, Sobonya denied the incidents that happened with S.W. and
denied that he fondled or orally copulated A. Sobonya spoke about his qualifying sex
offenses in a “matter-of-fact way; like it was as if [he] would tell the Court, Oh, I went
and had a cup of coffee this morning at Starbucks.”
Dr. Rahbar talked to Sobonya’s treatment provider at Coalinga State Hospital and
Sobonya’s social worker, and both said that they would not be comfortable releasing
Sobonya into the community. Sobonya’s social worker said that Sobonya was still
minimizing his offenses and was not actively participating in treatment. In 2015,
Sobonya told Dr. Rahbar that he did not need sex offender treatment.
Dr. Rahbar opined that Sobonya’s 2010 offenses, which involved him videotaping
and observing minors, were a “foundation building block[] of possibly engaging in a
qualifying sex offense.” Sobonya had a history of being a voyeur and the fact that he was
engaging in similar behavior again was “predictive of future behavior.”
Dr. Rahbar reviewed Sobonya’s medical files from Coalinga State Hospital.
Sobonya had coronary artery disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, but his
conditions were currently stable under his medication regimen.
Dr. Rahbar gave Sobonya a score of five on the Static-99, placing him in the
above average risk category.
2. The Defense’s Case
Dr. Carolyn Murphy testified for the defense as an expert in SVP evaluations and
forensic psychology. Dr. Murphy reviewed the reports prepared by Dr. Donovan and
Dr. Rahbar. She disagreed with Dr. Donovan’s conclusion that Sobonya had an
antisocial personality disorder. According to Dr. Murphy, there was no evidence that
11
Sobonya had very delinquent conduct before the age of 14, which is required for such a
disorder.
Dr. Murphy was not aware of studies that showed a direct link between antisocial
personality disorder and pedophilic disorder. Dr. Murphy believed that there was
evidence to suggest that Sobonya had a pedophilic disorder in 2016, but she questioned
whether the diagnosis remained current.
Sobonya did not commit sexual offenses until he was around 42 years old, and his
offenses ended when he was 44 years old. Dr. Murphy characterized this as “very
unusual for someone who is reported to have some sort of . . . compelling deviant interest
in children.”
Dr. Murphy interviewed Sobonya in 2016 and met him again in 2018 during one
of her trips to Coalinga State Hospital. During an interview, Sobonya told Dr. Murphy
that he was on drugs when he committed his offenses, but he clarified that he was not
blaming the drugs. Dr. Murphy believed that Sobonya wanted to help her understand
“why in [Sobonya’s] early forties and just in that very discrete period of time do we see
this pattern of very abhorrent conduct.” Sobonya indicated that he was open to pursuing
treatment after he was released. Dr. Murphy opined that someone who has pedophilia
may act on their urges only when under the influence, and drugs and alcohol are
substances that lower a person’s inhibitions.
Dr. Murphy reviewed Sobonya’s records from Atascadero State Hospital.
Sobonya was found to be a mentally disordered offender and underwent treatment at
Atascadero, and it was Dr. Murphy’s understanding that he was evaluated to be no longer
dangerous and was released from the program. At Atascadero, Sobonya went through
“cognitive behavioral interventions,” which Dr. Murphy described as “sex offender
treatment that has been tailored for that particular population.” Sobonya was in the
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community for over two years without reoffending until he was arrested in 2010 on drug
charges.
Dr. Murphy did not believe that Sobonya’s offenses in 2010 were similar to the
acts that he committed between 1992 and 1994. The offenses in 2010 involved older
children. The video that Sobonya took showed a child who was “not three, a teenager,
perhaps a young adult.” Dr. Murphy also opined that if the “junior little lifeguards” that
Sobonya was reported to be observing were prepubescent, his actions “may [possibly]
indicate continued interest” in children, but “if there’s no acting out on that otherwise it
doesn’t necessarily add support for continued risk or that one would actually act on it.”
Dr. Murphy asserted that if the lifeguards were “postpubescent, even if they’re teenagers,
that’s not considered deviant.”
Dr. Murphy testified that there are three protective factors that are related to
recidivism, including a person’s age, his or her medical condition, and whether he or she
has been in the community for 10 years without reoffending. According to Dr. Murphy,
age starts to impact recidivism starting at around age 50. Sobonya was already 69 years
old. The average life expectancy for a man is around 76 years, and Dr. Murphy opined
that when “someone is approaching close to 70 they don’t have much time left at risk.”
Sobonya’s medical history showed that he needed to be in a medical hospital because of
his high blood pressure, high heart rate, breathing problems due to coronary artery
disease, and peripheral arterial disease. Sobonya had previously suffered two heart
attacks. Dr. Murphy opined that health conditions can reduce a person’s desire to
reoffend and their ability to reoffend. Sobonya had not been in the community for
10 years before he was rearrested on the drug charges, so the last protective factor was
inapplicable. Thus, Dr. Murphy concluded that Sobonya had two out of the three
protective factors.
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Dr. Murphy also noted that Sobonya’s qualifying sex offenses occurred during a
two-and-a-half year cluster when he was reportedly under the influence of cocaine. In
Dr. Murphy’s opinion, Sobonya’s drug use was another factor to consider in terms of
what needed to be controlled and changed to reduce Sobonya’s risk of reoffending.
Dr. Murphy believed that Sobonya had been treated for his drug abuse problem and was
currently in remission. Dr. Murphy gave Sobonya a score of six on the Static-99.
Based on everything that she reviewed, Dr. Murphy concluded that Sobonya did
not qualify as an SVP under the SVPA.
Sobonya did not testify on his own behalf.
E. The Verdict
On June 28, 2019, the jury found the petition alleging that Sobonya met the
criteria as a sexually violent predator as defined under the SVPA to be true. The trial
court thereafter ordered Sobonya returned to the Department of State Hospitals pursuant
to the SVPA.
II. DISCUSSION
A. The Filing of the SVP Petition and Good Faith Mistake of Law or Fact
Sobonya argues that the SVP petition that was filed in Santa Cruz County should
have been dismissed because he was not in lawful custody when it was filed. He further
argues that his unlawful custody was not the result of a good faith mistake of fact or law
as described under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2). The People argue that substantial
evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that Sobonya’s unlawful custody was the
result of a good faith mistake and the petition should not be dismissed.
1. Background
On June 18, 2015, Sobonya’s trial counsel filed a demurrer to Santa Cruz
County’s SVP petition, arguing that it was defective on its face because Sobonya was not
in lawful custody when it was filed. According to the demurrer, Sobonya was scheduled
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to be released from custody for his Santa Cruz County substance abuse offenses on
March 19, 2015, nearly two months before the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s
Office filed its SVP petition.
The People responded to the demurrer and argued that the Ventura County District
Attorney’s Office had filed a timely SVP petition before Sobonya’s scheduled release
date. The People explained that an SVP petition was initially filed in Ventura County
because that is where Sobonya committed his qualifying sexual offenses under the
SVPA. It was later determined that Santa Cruz County was the correct venue, and the
Ventura County Superior Court transferred the case to Santa Cruz County. The Santa
Cruz County District Attorney’s Office filed its own SVP petition on May 7, 2015. The
People argued that Sobonya’s demurrer should not be sustained because Sobonya did not
complain about venue when the SVP petition was first filed in Ventura County. The
People further argued that even if Sobonya was not lawfully in custody when the Santa
Cruz County SVP petition was filed, the petition should not be dismissed because
Sobonya’s unlawful custody was the result of a good faith mistake of fact or law as
described under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2).
Attached to the People’s opposition was a declaration prepared by Ventura County
Deputy District Attorney Paul Feldman. Feldman asserted that he had received a packet
from the Department of State Hospitals on March 13, 2015, requesting that his office file
an SVP petition against Sobonya. Feldman’s office filed the petition on March 16, 2015.
Sobonya was transported to court and arraigned on March 19, 2015 in Ventura County.
Sobonya’s trial counsel requested that the case be continued until April 9, 2015. On
April 9, 2015, Sobonya appeared in court again, and his trial counsel again continued the
case until April 23, 2015 with a time waiver. On April 23, 2015, Sobonya’s trial counsel
requested another continuance until April 28, 2015 with a time waiver. On
April 24, 2015, Feldman realized that the Department of State Hospitals may have made
15
a mistake because it appeared that Santa Cruz County “had proper jurisdiction” over
Sobonya’s SVP petition. Feldman contacted the Department of State Hospitals “and was
informed that an error had occurred and the case should have been sent to the County of
Santa Cruz as they were the last county of commitment for Mr. Sobonya.” Feldman filed
a motion to transfer the case to Santa Cruz County on April 27, 2015, which the Ventura
County Superior Court granted on April 28, 2015.
Also attached to the People’s opposition was a minute order from the Ventura
County Superior Court that supported Feldman’s timeline of events. The minute order
showed that an SVP petition was filed in Ventura County on March 16, 2019. The
minute order also showed that Sobonya was present in court in Ventura County on
March 19, 2015, for proceedings relating to the petition. According to the minute order,
the matter was transferred to Santa Cruz County on April 28, 2015.
On June 23, 2015, Sobonya’s trial counsel responded to the People’s opposition.
Trial counsel argued that “an SVP petition is proper in any county where the sex offender
was convicted, not just the most recent one,” and because Sobonya was convicted of
offenses in Ventura County in 1995, “the filing of the petition in Ventura County was
proper.” Thus, trial counsel argued that “there [was] no mistake and the SVP petition
should be handled, if handled at all, in Ventura County.” Trial counsel insisted that the
Santa Cruz County petition was untimely filed, and the Santa Cruz County petition
should be dismissed.
On June 26, 2015, the trial court held a hearing on Sobonya’s demurrer.
Sobonya’s trial counsel argued that he had never seen the petition filed in Ventura
County, and it was unclear whether Santa Cruz County complied with the SVPA. The
People argued that the SVP petition was timely filed in Ventura County because the
Ventura County minute order reflected that the petition was filed on March 16, 2015, and
Sobonya’s last day of custody was March 19, 2015. The People also argued the initial
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filing in Ventura County was “certainly a mistake that was made in good faith,
because . . . the language [in the Welfare and Institutions Code] is deceptively
complicated.” The People noted that Sobonya personally appeared in court in Ventura
County and made no objections “concerning the petition or jurisdictional issues.”
After considering the parties’ arguments, the trial court denied Sobonya’s
demurrer. The trial court made the following conclusions: “[T]here’s two different ways
to look at it. One, Ventura County filed the petition timely and the case was transferred
here, which I don’t think necessitated the need for a new petition. The court can transfer
cases, and the receiving court receives it and takes over jurisdiction in its entirety. So if I
look at it from that perspective, we’re on track and the extra petition filed here in Santa
Cruz County doesn’t hurt but isn’t the date that I would look at. And then time has been
waived, and we’re still within the guidelines. [¶] The other way to look at it would be
Ventura never had authority. That petition filed there and what happened there has no
authority or value here. And the petition filed here in Santa Cruz County was untimely.
Well, 6601(a)(2) of the Welfare and Institutions Code indicates that a petition shall not be
dismissed on the basis of a later judicial determination that custody was unlawful—and
I’m paraphrasing somewhat—if based on good faith mistake, or additional fact or
law. . . . [¶] This allows the court here to say if, in fact, it’s untimely filed when he
wasn’t in lawful custody, was this a good faith mistake of law or fact? And I think it is,
based on the confusing nature of the different provisions we’re looking at.”
2. Santa Cruz County Was the Correct Venue To File the SVP Petition
First, Sobonya argues that the SVP petition was erroneously filed in Ventura
County. We agree with Sobonya that Santa Cruz County, not Ventura County, was the
correct venue to file the SVP petition.
“The SVPA requires that a person be in custody when the initial commitment
petition is filed.” (Langhorne v. Superior Court (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 225, 235
17
(Langhorne); § 6601, subds. (a)(1), (a)(2).) Section 6601, subdivision (a)(2) provides in
pertinent part: “A petition may be filed under this section if the individual was in custody
pursuant to his or her determinate prison term, parole revocation term, or a hold placed
pursuant to Section 6601.3, at the time the petition is filed.”
Under section 6601, subdivision (i), an SVP petition “shall be filed in the superior
court of the county in which the person was convicted of the offense for which he or she
was committed to the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.”
In 2012, Sobonya was convicted in Santa Cruz County and sentenced to prison for
one count of sale of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11352, subd. (a)(1))
and two counts of sale of marijuana (Health & Saf. Code, § 11360, subd. (a)(2)). The
Santa Cruz County offenses were the offenses for which Sobonya was committed to
prison when the SVP petition was filed. Thus, Santa Cruz County, not Ventura County,
was the correct venue for Sobonya’s SVP petition. (See Cheek v. Superior Court (2002)
103 Cal.App.4th 520, 525-526 [SVP petition can be properly filed in any of the counties
in which the person was convicted of the offense for which he or she was committed to
prison].)
3. Good Faith Mistake Under Section 6601, Subdivision (a)(1)
The trial court determined that even if the Ventura County SVP petition was
invalid and Sobonya’s custody was unlawful at the time the Santa Cruz County SVP
petition was filed, Sobonya’s unlawful custody was the result of a good faith mistake of
fact or law as described under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2).
a. General Legal Principles
An express good faith exception to the custody requirement is provided in
section 6601, subdivision (a)(2), which states in pertinent part: “A petition shall not be
dismissed on the basis of a later judicial or administrative determination that the
18
individual’s custody was unlawful, if the unlawful custody was the result of a good faith
mistake of fact or law.”
“In view of [this] provision, when an untimely petition is filed and the individual
is held beyond the end of his prison or parole revocation term (and any section 6601.3
hold) in order to facilitate the sexually violent predator proceedings, ‘the custody
becomes unlawful and the petition must be dismissed unless the unlawful custody
resulted from a good faith mistake of fact or law.’ ” (People v. Superior Court (Sokolich)
(2016) 248 Cal.App.4th 434, 446 (Sokolich).)
“[T]he phrase ‘ “good faith” ’ as incorporated in section 6601(a)(2) is ‘generally
understood “to describe that state of mind denoting honesty of purpose, freedom from
intention to defraud, and, generally speaking, means being faithful to one’s duty or
obligation. [Citations.]” [Citation.] In other words, good faith is “ ‘a state of mind
indicating honesty and lawfulness of purpose: belief in one’s legal title or right: belief
that one’s conduct is not unconscionable . . . .’ ” ’ ” (Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th at
p. 446.) “The existence of good faith is determined by the circumstances existing at the
time of the alleged good faith act, and ‘not by virtue of hindsight.’ ” (Langhorne, supra,
179 Cal.App.4th at p. 239.)
In Langhorne, this court applied the good faith mistake provision in a situation
where the inmates’ unlawful custody arose from the People’s filing of improper motions
to convert two-year commitment terms to indeterminate terms because the record
demonstrated that the People attempted to faithfully comply with their obligations under
the SVPA and there was no appellate court decision construing the amendments to the
SVPA at the time the improper motions were filed. (Langhorne, supra, 179 Cal.App.4th
at p. 239.) The good faith mistake provision, however, has been found inapplicable in
situations where the record demonstrates a lack of good faith—for example, where an
inmate’s unlawful custody arose from the failure to make timely mental health referrals
19
that was the result of an increased workload on the Department of Corrections and the
Department of Mental Health. (See People v. Superior Court (Small) (2008) 159
Cal.App.4th 301, 310 [“increased workload does not amount to a mistake of law or fact
and is something that the Department of Corrections and the Department of Mental
Health could have anticipated and prepared for”].)
Appellate courts have also interpreted the good faith mistake provision to
encompass negligent mistakes. In Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th 434, an SVP petition
was untimely filed on the day that the inmate was scheduled to be released because the
State Department of Mental Health listed the wrong release date when it recommended
filing an SVP petition. (Id. at p. 439.) The Second Appellate District concluded that
although there was “some evidence of negligence[] in view of the district attorney’s
office policy directing attorneys to obtain confirmation from the DCR regarding release
dates . . . . mere negligence in determining the release date does not establish the absence
of good faith.” (Id. at p. 451.) The record in Sokolich reflected “no intentional
wrongdoing, subjective dishonesty, or improper motive, but rather diligent efforts by the
district attorney’s office to file the petition in a timely manner.” (Id. at p. 452.)
In coming to its decision, Sokolich determined that the statutory language of
section 6601, subdivision (a)(2) supported the conclusion that good faith does not require
the absence of negligence. (Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th at p. 448-449.)
“Negligence is ordinarily assessed by reference to reasonableness, viewed objectively.
The general standard of care applicable to negligence is ‘ “that of a reasonably prudent
person under like circumstances” ’ [citation], which constitutes an ‘objective reasonable
person standard’ [citation]. ” (Id. at p. 447.) “[N]egligence ordinarily hinges on whether
the pertinent person complied with that standard, rather than on the person’s state of
mind,” and “[i]t is thus possible to make a negligent mistake while acting in good faith.”
(Ibid.)
20
Sokolich also examined the legislative history of the good faith mistake provision,
which was described in the California Supreme Court’s decision in In re Smith (2008) 42
Cal.4th 1251. (Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th at p. 449.) In Smith, the Supreme Court
noted that when section 6601, subdivision (a)(2) was added to the SVPA, the “legislative
committee analyses made clear that it was intended to adopt a rule similar to the holding
in [People v. Superior Court (Whitley) (1999) 68 Cal.App.4th 1383].” (Smith, supra, at
p. 1260). In People v. Superior Court (Whitley), supra, at pages 1389-1390 (Whitley), the
appellate court held that the inmate should not be released even though it was later
determined that his parole had been erroneously revoked before the SVP petition was
filed. In coming to its conclusion, Whitley determined that there was nothing to indicate
that there was “negligent or intentional wrongdoings” committed by the Department of
Corrections when it revoked the inmate’s parole. (Id. at p. 1391.)
Smith observed that the legislative analyses further stated: “ ‘The issue that
generated this bill arose in the context of a mistake of law about [psychiatric parole
revocations]. Such an error is arguably merely [a] technically error, as an inmate who
appears to be an SVP would likely be subject to very rapid proper revocation of parole
upon release from custody. Similar problems could raise if a court decision rules that
good-faith sentencing credit calculations were made in error. [¶] The Attorney General,
the co-sponsor of the bill, notes that this bill should also address analogous mistakes of
fact. For example, a simple mistake in arithmetic in the calculation of credits could result
in an untimely filing of an SVP petition. The Attorney General argues that such a good-
faith error should not result in the release of [an] SVP who presents a substantial danger
to the public.’ ” (Smith, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 1261.) The Assembly Republican bill
analysis also stated: “ ‘The bill responds to an ambiguity created by an appellate court
decision and makes it clear that sexually violent predators are not to be unleashed on
society simply because “the constable has blundered.” ’ ” (Ibid.)
21
Sokolich observed that Whitley relied on good faith and the absence of negligent
or intentional wrongdoing in its decision. (Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th at p. 448;
Whitley, supra, 68 Cal.App.4th at p. 1390, 1391-1392.) However, Sokolich concluded
that the legislative history as described in Smith “contains no suggestion that the term
‘good faith’ . . . requires the absence of negligence.” (Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th
at p. 449.) “Although some courts have affirmed a finding of a good faith mistake of law
under the rationale stated in Whitley, none examined whether the existence of a negligent
mistake of law or fact, by itself, would nullify good faith.” (Ibid.; see In re Lucas (2012)
53 Cal.4th 839, 852-858) In fact, “[t]he legislative history supports the reasonable
inference that the term ‘good faith mistake’ was intended to encompass technical errors,
custody credit miscalculations, and even ‘blunder[s]’ manifesting no wrongful intent.”
(Sokolich, supra, at p. 449)
b. Standard of Review
“We review the trial court’s finding of good faith under the substantial evidence
standard of review.” (Langhorne, supra, 179 Cal.App.4th at p. 238.) “ ‘Good faith, or its
absence, involves a factual inquiry into the plaintiff’s subjective state of mind [citations]:
Did he or she believe the action was valid? What was his or her intent or purpose in
pursuing it? A subjective state of mind will rarely be susceptible of direct proof; usually
the trial court will be required to infer it from circumstantial evidence. Because the good
faith issue is factual, the question on appeal will be whether the evidence of record was
sufficient to sustain the trial court’s finding.’ ” (Id. at pp. 238-239.)
c. Application of Section 6601, Subdivision (a)(2)
In this case, the trial court expressly determined that Sobonya’s unlawful custody
was the result of a good faith mistake under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2). We
conclude that substantial evidence supports this factual determination.
22
Feldman’s declaration and the Ventura County Superior Court’s minute order
reflect that the parties acted in good faith when the SVP petition was initially filed in
Ventura County. According to Feldman, he received a packet from the Department of
State Hospitals requesting that he file an SVP petition on March 13, 2015, before
Sobonya’s scheduled release date, and, relying on the request, Feldman filed an SVP
petition while Sobonya was still in custody. The Ventura County Superior Court’s
minute order shows that Feldman’s office and the trial court proceeded on the petition as
if it were filed in the correct venue. Sobonya was appointed counsel, and Sobonya’s own
trial counsel initially raised no objection or concerns about the petition. Sobonya was
transported from prison and appeared in court in Ventura County. Feldman moved to
transfer the matter to Santa Cruz County after he discovered that the Department of State
Hospitals had sent the request to Ventura County by mistake.
Sobonya argues that the Ventura County District Attorney’s office engaged in
“ ‘egregiously unreasonable conduct.’ ” However, the language of the statute itself is
susceptible to confusion over the correct venue. Section 6601, subdivision (i) states that
the SVP petition should be filed “in the superior court of the county in which the person
was convicted of the offense for which he or she was committed to the jurisdiction of the
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.” The SVPA deals with sexual offenses,
and Sobonya’s qualifying sexual offenses were committed in Ventura County. In fact,
Sobonya’s trial counsel at one point argued to the trial court that Ventura County, not
Santa Cruz County, was the appropriate venue for this very reason—because Sobonya’s
qualifying sexual offenses were committed in Ventura County. As the trial court
observed, the existence of a good faith mistake was supported by the “confusing nature of
the different provisions we’re looking at.”
The record reflects that Feldman moved to transfer the matter to Santa Cruz
County once he discovered that a mistake had been made. Even assuming that the
23
Ventura County District Attorney’s Office was negligent in failing to thoroughly examine
the Department of State Hospital’s request or to research the requirements of
section 6601, subdivision (i), which would have led to the discovery of the mistake at an
earlier time, we agree with Sokolich that “mere negligence . . . does not establish the
absence of good faith.” (Sokolich, supra, 248 Cal.App.4th at p. 451.) Neither the
legislative history nor the statutory language of section 6601, subdivision (a)(2) reflects
an intent to exclude good faith mistakes that are negligent, and it is “possible to make a
negligent mistake while acting in good faith.” (Sokolich, supra, at pp. 448-449.) In this
case, the record does not reflect any “intentional wrongdoing, dishonesty, or improper
motive” when the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed the SVP petition. (Id.
at p. 452.)
Accordingly, substantial evidence supports the trial court’s factual finding that the
People made a good faith mistake by filing the SVP petition in Ventura County. Thus,
the exception described under section 6601, subdivision (a)(2) precludes the dismissal of
the commitment petition filed in Santa Cruz County.4
B. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Sobonya argues that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance because he
failed to timely object to Dr. Donovan’s testimony that she would “seriously consider
adding sexual sadism as a diagnosis.” The People argue that there was no basis for trial
4
Sobonya also argues that there was no showing of good cause for a 45-day
extension to file a SVPA under section 6601.3, and even if there was a showing of good
cause, the Santa Cruz County petition was not filed until 48 days after his original
discharge date. The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s office, however, never
requested an extension under section 6601.3. Furthermore, given our decision that the
good faith mistake provision of section 6601, subdivision (a)(2) applies, Sobonya’s
unlawful custody does not warrant dismissal of the SVP petition. We also do not need to
reach the People’s alternative arguments that Sobonya forfeited his right to complain that
Ventura County was an improper venue for the SVP petition and that Sobonya waived his
right to challenge the timeliness of the SVP petition filed in Santa Cruz County.
24
counsel to object to Dr. Donovan’s testimony, and, in any event, any deficient
performance was not prejudicial.
1. General Principles and Standard of Review
To prevail on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, Sobonya must establish
that trial counsel’s performance was deficient and that he suffered prejudice. (Strickland
v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 687 (Strickland).) The deficient performance
component of an ineffective assistance of counsel claim requires a showing that
“counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness” under
prevailing professional norms. (Id. at p. 688.) Regarding prejudice, a “defendant must
show that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors,
the result of the proceeding would have been different.” (Id. at p. 694.)
“It is particularly difficult to prevail on an appellate claim of ineffective
assistance. On direct appeal, a conviction will be reversed for ineffective assistance only
if (1) the record affirmatively discloses counsel had no rational tactical purpose for the
challenged act or omission, (2) counsel was asked for a reason and failed to provide one,
or (3) there simply could be no satisfactory explanation. All other claims of ineffective
assistance are more appropriately resolved in a habeas corpus proceeding.” (People v.
Mai (2013) 57 Cal.4th 986, 1009.)
2. Background
At trial, Dr. Donovan testified about the video that Sobonya made of his sexual
assaults against C. Dr. Donovan had viewed the first minute of the video and had read a
narrative description of the video’s contents. Dr. Donovan stated: “So after I read [the
description of the video], honestly, like it made me think that he fits into different
diagnoses, different paraphilias, so sexual sadism or we call it other specific paraphilic
disorder, nonconsent, where you are essentially sexually aroused by—especially for
sexual sadism, you’re sexually aroused by the fact that you’re causing the—the other
25
person pain.” Dr. Donovan also testified, “I would really seriously consider adding
sexual sadism as a diagnosis.”
The prosecutor asked Dr. Donovan, “For our discussion right now, I want you to
assume that [sexual sadism] is a diagnosis, I want to talk about the combination, then, of
pedophilia, the paraphilia of sadism and now the antisocial personality disorder. [¶] First
off, where does that put him on the percentage of offenders, that—that triple
combination?” Dr. Donovan testified, “That puts him on the pretty rare side of sex
offenders.” Dr. Donovan, however, added that this additional diagnosis might change
some of Sobonya’s additional risk factors but it would not “change particularly [his]
Static-99” score.
Next, the prosecutor asked Dr. Donovan about how the combination of sexual
sadism and antisocial personality disorder typically manifests. At that point, defendant’s
trial counsel asked for a sidebar. During the sidebar, trial counsel argued that
Dr. Donovan had not written about a diagnosis of sexual sadism in her reports, and her
testimony was an “ambush.” Thus, trial counsel objected to Dr. Donovan’s testimony
“under [Penal Code section] 1054 and under due process.” The prosecutor responded
that Dr. Donovan had not stated that she intended to change her diagnosis on the stand,
and the prosecutor did not recall Dr. Donovan telling him specifically about her opinion
on sexual sadism. The prosecutor explained, “This is just a dynamic conversation we are
having on the stand.” The trial court concluded: “There is a fairness aspect that I am
concerned about. I think the point has been made about where this gentleman rests on
this spectrum, and she has made a point about all of three of these factors and [the
prosecutor] will move onto other topics.”
Later, Dr. Donovan reiterated during cross-examination that she did not diagnose
Sobonya with sexual sadism and attested, “I have not changed my diagnosis . . . .”
Dr. Donovan testified: “I mean, I think that looking back on the evidence that I was
26
given and especially the evidence from the—the videotape of [C.], that evidence isn’t any
of the details of that crime wasn’t stuff that I had before when I did my report, and I
would—I would really strongly consider a diagnosis of sexual sadism for [Sobonya]
based on the facts of that video . . . .”
Trial counsel also cross-examined Dr. Donovan about the definition of sexual
sadism under the DSM-V,5 which requires “ ‘recurrent and intense sexual arousal from
the physical or psychological suffering of another person as manifested by fantasies,
urges, or behaviors’ ” over a period of six months. Trial counsel pointed out that Dr.
Donovan had considered only “evidence of one act,” which did not suggest that the
behaviors had been exhibited over a period of six months. Dr. Donovan again reiterated
that she did not diagnose Sobonya with sexual sadism, but she believed that he “strongly
meets some of the criteria.” Trial counsel also pointed out that the definition of
“ ‘[s]exual sadism involving nonconsenting others, i.e. multiple victims’ ” in the DSM-V
has been generally “ ‘interpreted as three or more victims on separate occasions.’ ” Trial
counsel asked Dr. Donovan whether she had evidence of only one victim, C., on one
occasion. Dr. Donovan asserted that she would also consider A. to be a victim, but she
again reiterated, “I didn’t give him a diagnosis of sexual sadism, but I would strongly,
again, consider it . . . .”
3. Analysis
Sobonya argues that his trial counsel’s performance was deficient because he
failed to timely object to Dr. Donovan’s testimony about sexual sadism. He argues that
an earlier objection would have been meritorious under Penal Code section 1054.1
because the prosecutor had access to information about the video of the sexual assaults
Dr. Donovan testified that the DSM is a “diagnostical statistical manual” that
5
describes “diagnoses that we use in the psychological and psychiatric community.”
27
against C. for “years prior to trial,” and Dr. Donovan’s testimony on the subject was “an
ambush and inconsistent with the quest for truth.”
Under Penal Code section 1054.1, subdivision (f), the prosecutor must disclose
“[r]elevant written or recorded statements of witnesses or reports of the statements of
witnesses whom the prosecutor intends to call at the trial, including any reports or
statements of experts made in conjunction with the case, including the results of physical
or mental examinations, scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons which the
prosecutor intends to offer in evidence at the trial.”
Penal Code section 1054.1 applies to criminal cases. “The SVPA establishes a
‘civil commitment scheme covering persons who are to be viewed, “not as criminals, but
as sick persons.” ’ [Citation.] Thus, an SVPA proceeding is civil in nature.” (People v.
Superior Court (Cheek) (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 980, 988.) “The Civil Discovery Act
applies in both ‘a civil action and a special proceeding of a civil nature’ ” like the SVPA.
(Ibid.) Nonetheless, “[w]hile the Civil Discovery Act is applicable in SVPA proceedings,
the right to civil discovery in special proceedings of a civil nature remains subject to the
trial court’s authority to manage discovery.” (Id. at p. 988-989.)
Assuming that that Penal Code section 1054.1 is applicable here, Sobonya does
not demonstrate that an objection on that ground would have been meritorious. There is
no dispute that the prosecutor in this case disclosed the reports prepared by Dr. Donovan
to Sobonya’s trial counsel. Although the prosecutor did not disclose that Dr. Donovan
intended to testify that she would strongly consider adding a diagnosis of sexual sadism,
the record reflects that the prosecutor himself was unaware that Dr. Donovan intended to
testify on that subject. During the sidebar with the trial court, the prosecutor indicated
that he was merely having a “dynamic conversation” with Dr. Donovan when she brought
up the subject of sexual sadism.
28
Additionally, this is not a situation where the record affirmatively discloses that
there was no rational, tactical explanation for trial counsel’s failure to make an earlier
objection. When Dr. Donovan initially testified that she was considering adding a
diagnosis of sexual sadism, trial counsel may have believed that he could appropriately
respond to Dr. Donovan’s testimony during cross-examination. (People v. Campbell
(2020) 51 Cal.App.5th 463, 506 [competent counsel may forego valid objection for
tactical reason].) Additionally, trial counsel may have legitimately thought that objecting
to the challenged remarks would serve to only draw further attention to Dr. Donovan’s
opinion about sexual sadism. (See, e.g., People v. Huggins (2006) 38 Cal.4th 175, 206
[finding no ineffective assistance of counsel when counsel’s failure to object could be
explained as a tactical decision not to draw the jurors’ attention to comments by the
prosecutor].) “ ‘[I]n the heat of a trial, defense counsel is best able to determine proper
tactics in the light of the jury’s apparent reaction to the proceedings.” (People v. Riel
(2000) 22 Cal.4th 1153, 1197.)
Indeed, trial counsel effectively cross-examined Dr. Donovan on the subject of
sexual sadism and highlighted the deficiencies in her testimony. Trial counsel asked
Dr. Donovan about the definition of sexual sadism in the DSM-V, which requires
fantasies, urges, or behaviors that manifest over a period of six months. Trial counsel
asked Dr. Donovan if she only had evidence of one act with C. Trial counsel also pointed
out that the definition of “[s]exual sadism involving nonconsenting others, i.e. multiple
victims” in the DSM-V, is generally “ ‘interpreted as three or more victims on separate
occasions.’ ” Dr. Donovan testified that she believed A. was also a victim, but she did
not have evidence of three victims. Trial counsel’s cross-examination not only illustrated
that Dr. Donovan’s opinion about sexual sadism did not meet the definition of the
disorder as described under the DSM-V, but also elicited Dr. Donovan’s repeated
assertions that she had not diagnosed Sobonya with sexual sadism.
29
Accordingly, Sobonya does not meet his burden to show that “counsel’s
representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness” under prevailing
professional norms. (Strickland, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 688.)
Sobonya also does not meet his burden to show that trial counsel’s failure to make
an earlier objection resulted in prejudicial error. Sobonya argues that evidence that he
was likely to engage in sexually violent offenses in the future was weak, and
Dr. Donovan’s testimony that she was considering adding sexual sadism as a diagnosis
was “incredibly prejudicial” because it indicated that he suffered from a third diagnosis
and “essentially obliterated [Dr.] Murphy’s testimony and made it impossible for the jury
to accept [Dr.] Murphy’s conclusion that [he] was not likely to engage in sexually violent
offenses in the future.”
We disagree with Sobonya’s characterization of Dr. Donovan’s testimony. As we
have already stated, Dr. Donovan admitted on cross-examination that Sobonya’s acts did
not satisfy all the criteria required for a diagnosis of sexual sadism as described in the
DSM-V. She also admitted several times that she was not diagnosing Sobonya with
sexual sadism. Dr. Donovan further testified that an additional diagnosis of sexual
sadism might change some of Sobonya’s additional risk factors, but it would not “change
particularly [his] Static-99” score.
In fact, Dr. Donovan’s testimony about sexual sadism was no more prejudicial
than the description of the contents of the videotapes that involved C. The jury was
informed that the videos showed that Sobonya forced C. to orally copulate him, Sobonya
orally copulated C.’s vagina and anus, Sobonya digitally penetrated C., and Sobonya
penetrated C.’s vagina with his penis. The jury was also informed that C. says in the
video, “ ‘I don’t want to do it’ ” and she “ ‘doesn’t feel good.’ ” Even without
Dr. Donovan’s testimony about sexual sadism, the video summary provided undisputed
30
evidence that Sobonya had committed sexual offenses against C. over her objection and
without her consent.
Sobonya also argues that it was prejudicial for Dr. Donovan to testify that she
considered A. to be a victim that fit within the sexual sadism diagnosis. The jury,
however, was already presented with evidence that Sobonya kidnapped A., took off A.’s
clothes, and touched “his bottom on her bottom.” Dr. Donovan testified that Sobonya
rubbed lotion over A.’s genitals and put his penis in her mouth. Afterwards, Sobonya
dropped A. off in a neighborhood, where she was later found crying. R.G., A.’s mother,
testified that A. was scared and crying after the incident. Dr. Donovan’s additional
testimony about the offenses that were committed against A. did not, as Sobonya
suggests, portray him as being more dangerous than what was already presented in the
evidence. The jury could already reasonably infer based on the evidence that the offenses
committed against A. were done against her will.
Finally, Sobonya insists that the evidence presented at trial that he was likely to
engage in sexually violent offenses in the future was weak because his qualifying
offenses took place during a concise time frame, between 1992 and 1994. The jury,
however, could logically conclude that the discrete timing of Sobonya’s offenses was due
in large part to the fact that he was incarcerated for his qualifying offenses following his
conviction in 1995 and was not released from prison until 2008. Sobonya had no
opportunity to reoffend while he was incarcerated. Sobonya was homeless after he was
released in 2008 and was in the community for over two years without reoffending until
he was arrested in 2010 for drug charges. However, preceding his 2010 arrest, Sobonya
viewed and videotaped minors without their consent.
We recognize that Dr. Murphy’s testimony supported Sobonya’s position that
there were multiple protective factors in his favor including his age and medical
condition. We also recognize that Dr. Murphy opined that Sobonya’s drug use, which
31
she believed was in remission, should be considered when evaluating his actions because
drug and alcohol use can lower inhibitions. Nonetheless, as we have discussed, the jury
was presented with evidence from two experts that Sobonya qualified as an SVP.
Dr. Donovan’s additional remarks about sexual sadism were not particularly probative or
prejudicial and were largely cumulative of the evidence that was already presented at
trial.
As a result, Sobonya has not shown that “there is a reasonable probability that, but
for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been
different.” (Strickland, supra, 466 U.S. at p. 694.)
C. Constitutionality of the Indeterminate Commitment Under the SVPA
Lastly, Sobonya contends that the SVPA, as amended in 2006 to provide for an
indeterminate term of commitment and as amended in 2013 regarding the procedure for
unconditional release (Stats. 2013, ch. 182, § 3), violates the due process, ex post facto
and double jeopardy clauses. He acknowledges that the California Supreme Court has
rejected due process, ex post factor and double jeopardy challenges to the SVPA
in People v. McKee (2010) 47 Cal.4th 1172 (McKee I), but states that our Supreme Court
erred and he wishes to preserve these issues for federal review.
1. Due Process
In McKee I, the Supreme Court determined that a person subject to an indefinite
commitment under the amended SVPA is not deprived of due process because he or she
has the burden, after the initial commitment, to show by a preponderance of the evidence
that he or she no longer meets the statutory criteria for commitment as an SVP. (McKee
I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 1191.) The McKee I court also found no merit in the contention
that the trial court's discretion to deny as frivolous a committed person’s petition for
conditional release pursuant to section 6608, subdivision (a) violates due process.
(McKee I, supra, at p. 1192.) Finally, the McKee I court construed the amended SVPA to
32
implicitly provide for the appointment of a state-funded mental health expert when a
committed person petitions for release under section 6608, subdivision (a), and that as so
construed, “it does not violate the due process clause.” (McKee I, supra, at p. 1193.)
Sobonya contends that the ability of a committed person to petition for
unconditional release under section 6608 is not an adequate remedy for a due process
violation. However, in McKee I the Supreme Court stated, “We construe statutes when
reasonable to avoid difficult constitutional issues. [Citation.] After Proposition 83, it is
still the case that an individual may not be held in civil commitment when he or she no
longer meets the requisites of such commitment. An SVP may be held, as the United
States Supreme Court stated under similar circumstances, ‘as long as he is both mentally
ill and dangerous, but no longer.’ [Citation.]” (McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 1193.)
Accordingly, based on the decision in McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th 1172, we
conclude that the current version of the SVPA does not violate the due process clause.
(Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 450, 455 (Auto Equity
Sales).)
2. Ex Post Facto and Double Jeopardy
Sobonya contends that the amended SVPA violates the ex post facto and double
jeopardy clauses of the California and United States Constitution because “the SVP Act
now amounts to punishment.” This contention has no merit.
In McKee I, the California Supreme court reiterated its decision in Hubbart v.
Superior Court (1999) 19 Cal.4th 1138 that the SVPA was not punitive because it had
two nonpunitive objectives, “treatment for the individual committed and protection of the
public.” (McKee I, supra, 47 Cal.4th at p. 1194.) After examining the amended SVPA,
the McKee I court determined that “the Proposition 83 amendments at issue here cannot
be regarded to have changed the essentially nonpunitive purpose of the [SVPA],” and
therefore that the amended SVPA does not violate the ex post facto clause. (Ibid.)
33
In light of the California Supreme Court’s holding in McKee I that the amended
SVPA is not punitive in nature, Sobonya’s double jeopardy claim is likewise without
merit. (See People v. Carlin (2007) 150 Cal.App.4th 322, 348, italics omitted [California
Supreme Court's determination that SVPA is not punitive “ ‘removes an essential
prerequisite for both . . . double jeopardy and ex post facto claims’ ”].)
We therefore find that the SVPA does not violate the ex post facto or double
jeopardy clauses of the United States Constitution. (Auto Equity Sales, supra, 57 Cal.2d
at p. 455.)
III. DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
34
BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J.
WE CONCUR:
ELIA, ACTING P.J.
DANNER, J.
People v. Sobonya
H047112