Com. v. Haberman, R. ( 2015 )

J-S58038-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
ROBERT HABERMAN
Appellant No. 545 MDA 2015
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence March 6, 2015
In the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-28-CR-0000076-2012
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., OLSON, J., and PLATT, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED OCTOBER 19, 2015
Appellant, Robert Haberman, appeals from the judgment of sentence
entered in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, following his
negotiated guilty plea to rape.1 We affirm.
The relevant facts and procedural history of this case are as follows.
Appellant sexually abused his stepdaughter (“Victim”) from approximately
2001 until 2007, when she was twelve (12) to eighteen (18) years old.
Victim reported the abuse in 2011, and the Commonwealth subsequently
charged Appellant on February 27, 2012, with rape by forcible compulsion,
sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, endangering welfare of children,
____________________________________________
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. 3121(a)(1).
_____________________________
*Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S58038-15
involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion, and
aggravated indecent assault without consent. On August 14, 2014,
Appellant entered a negotiated guilty plea to one count of rape by forcible
compulsion. The court deferred sentencing, pending an assessment of
Appellant by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board (“SOAB”) and a
sexually violent predator (“SVP”) hearing. On March 6, 2014, the court held
a SVP hearing, determined Appellant was a SVP, and sentenced Appellant to
sixty (60) to two hundred and forty (240) months’ imprisonment.
On March 16, 2015, Appellant filed a timely post-sentence motion,
which the court denied on March 26, 2015. On March 27, 2015, Appellant
filed a timely notice of appeal. The court ordered Appellant to file a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b),
and Appellant timely complied on April 1, 2015.
Appellant raises the following issues for our review:
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR OR ABUSE ITS DISCRETION IN
CLASSIFYING [APPELLANT] AS A SEXUALLY VIOLENT
PREDATOR WHEN THE ONLY “MENTAL ABNORMALITY OR
PERSONALITY DISORDER” PRESENTED WAS A DIAGNOSIS
OF HEBEPHILIA, WHICH IS NOT GENERALLY ACCEPTED BY
THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AS A MENTAL ABNORMALITY
AND IS NOT A RECOGNIZED MENTAL DISORDER?
DID THE TRIAL COURT ERR BY DENYING [APPELLANT’S]
REQUEST FOR A FRYE[2] HEARING TO DETERMINE
WHETHER HEBEPHILIA IS A GENERALLY ACCEPTED
DIAGNOSIS WITHIN THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY
____________________________________________
2
Frye v. U.S., 293 F 2013 (D.C.Cir. 1923).
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AND BY STATING THAT A FRYE HEARING WOULD HAVE
BEEN UNNECESSARY BECAUSE THE COURT ALREADY
DETERMINED, WITHOUT A HEARING, THAT THE GENERAL
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY HAS REACHED A GENERAL
ACCEPTANCE OF HEBEPHILIA AS A DIAGNOSIS EVEN
THOUGH HEBEPHILIA IS NOT A RECOGNIZED MENTAL
DISORDER?
(Appellant’s Brief at 12).
After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the
applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Carol L. Van
Horn, we conclude Appellant’s issues on appeal merit no relief. The trial
court opinion comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the
questions presented. (See Trial Court Opinion, filed May 22, 2015, at 3-14)
(finding: (1) as member of SOAB, Mr. Hays completed expert assessment of
Appellant and testified on behalf of Commonwealth at SVP hearing; Mr. Hays
testified SOAB generally concurs that hebephilia, defined as sexual attraction
to post-pubescent children, is viable mental abnormality for purposes of SVP
determination, even though it is absent from Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders; in Commonwealth v. Hollingshead, 111 A.3d
186 (Pa.Super. 2015), Superior Court held that hebephilia diagnosis,
combined with expert testimony and facts of case, satisfies mental
abnormality requirement necessary for SVP determination; Mr. Hays stated
Appellant’s sustained sexual urges toward twelve-year-old child supports
finding that Appellant suffers from hebephilia; Mr. Hays opined certified
record does not contain evidence of other motivation for sexual abuse, so
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only explanation for Appellant’s behavior is hebephilia diagnosis; Mr. Hays
also found relevant to SVP determination Appellant’s use of threats to
achieve offense, Appellant’s relationship with Victim as stepfather, and
nature of Appellant’s sexual contact with Victim; after analyzing all statutory
factors, Mr. Hays concluded facts of case supported conclusion that
Appellant is SVP; therefore, Commonwealth presented clear and convincing
evidence to classify Appellant as SVP; (2) scientific evidence was not novel,
because hebephilia is viable mental disorder in field of sexual offender
assessment; in Hollingshead, Superior Court held that hebephilia,
combined with expert testimony and facts of case, can satisfy mental
abnormality requirement for purposes of SVP determination; moreover,
court already addressed whether hebephilia constitutes novel science
because majority of testimony at SVP hearing discussed scientific
community’s acceptance of hebephilia; thus, court did not err in denying
Appellant’s request for Frye hearing). Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of
the trial court’s opinion.
Judgment of sentence affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 10/19/2015
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF THE 39m JUDICIAL DISTRICT
OF PENNSYLVANIA - FRANKLIN COUNTY BRANCH
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, CRIMINAL ACTION
vs. No: 76-2012
Robert Haberman,
Defendant Honorable Carol L. Van Horn
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
On August 14, 2014, the above-captioned Defendant, Robert Haberman, pled guilty to
one count of rape.1 Because rape is a sexually violent offense under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.14, the
Defendant was ordered to be assessed by the State Sexual Offender's Assessment Board,
(SOAB) pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24.2 Herbert Edwin Hays was appointed by the SOAB to
evaluate the Defendant, and testified as an expert in the area of sexual offender assessment,
treatment, and management. At the time of the hearing, Mr. Hays had worked for the SOAB for
17 years, and had conducted approximately 1175 sexually violent predator (SVP) assessments.
On October 23, 2014, the Defendant filed a Petition for Appointment of Defense Expert for SVP
Hearing and this Court granted the Petition the following day. The Defendant retained Timothy
P. Foley, Ph.D., for an evaluation and Dr. Foley also testified as an expert in the area of sexual-
offender treatment and assessments. At the time of the hearing, Dr. Foley had worked in the field
of sexual offender treatment and assessments for 25 years and had conducted roughly 1500 SVP
assessments.
1
18 Pa. C.S. § 3121.
2
"(a) Order for assessment.--After conviction but before sentencing, a court shall order an individual convicted of a
sexually violent offense to be assessed by the board. The order for an assessment shall be sent to the
administrative officer of the board within ten days of the date of conviction for the sexually violent offense. (bl
Assessment.--Uponreceipt from the court of an order for an assessment, a member of the board as designated by
the administrative officer of the board shall conduct an assessment of the individual to determine if the Individual
should be classified as a sexually violent predator." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24.
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On March 6, 2015, a hearing was held to determine if the Defendant was a SVP.
Ultimately, Mr. Hays concluded that the Defendant met the criteria to warrant classification as a
SVP and this Court agreed and adjudicated the Defendant as a SVP pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. §
9799.10 et seq. The determination was reduced to an Order of the Court on that same date and
the Defendant was subsequently sentenced to 60 to 240 months in a State Correctional Institution
with credit for time served. Defendant filed a timely Post-Sentence Motion on March 16, 2015.
On March 26, 2015, this Court denied the Motion by Order of Court. Defendant filed a Notice of
Appeal on March 27, 2015, and his Concise Statement of Matters Complained of on Appeal on
April 1, 2015.
ISSUES RAISED
Defendant raises the following issues in his Concise Statement:"
1. Whether the trial court erred by denying Defendant's request for a Frye hearing to
determine whether hebephilia is a generally accepted diagnosis within the mental health
community and by stating that a Frye hearing would have been unnecessary because the
Court already determined, without a hearing, that the general scientific community has
reached a general acceptance ofhebephilia as a diagnosis?
2. Whether the trial court erred or abused its discretion in classifying Defendant as a
sexually violent predator?
DISCUSSION
I. Legal Standard
A trial court's determination of SVP status will be reversed on appeal only where the
Commonwealth has not presented clear and convincing evidence sufficient to determine each
statutory element has been satisfied. See Commonwealth v. Krouse, 799 A.2d 835, 838 (Pa.
Super. Ct. 2002). Clear and convincing evidence in the context of a Meagan's Law determination
3
Concise Statement of Errors Complained ofon Appeal, 4/1/15.
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is evidence "so clear, direct, weighty and convincing" as to enable the Court "to come to a clear
conviction, without hesitancy, of the truth of the precise facts at issue." Commonwealth v.
Maldonado, 838 A.2d 710, 715 (Pa. 2003). Thus, in evaluating a trial court's SVP classification,
the Superior Court's scope of review is plenary. Commonwealth v. Dixon, 907 A.2d 533, 535
(Pa. Super. 2006). In Dixon, the Superior Court stated:
[W]e will reverse the trial court only if the Commonwealth has not
presented clear and convincing evidence sufficient to enable the
trial court to determine that each element required by the statute
has been satisfied. The evidence must be viewed in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth. The reviewing court may not
weigh the evidence or substitute its judgment for that of the trial
court. The clear and convincing standard requires evidence that is
so clear, direct, weighty and convincing as to enable the trier of
fact to come to a clear conviction, without hesitancy, of the truth of
the precise facts in issue.
Dixon, 907 A.2d at 535 (quoting Commonwealth v. Plucinski, 868 A.2d 20, 25 (Pa. Super. 2005)
(citations and quotations omitted)).
When determining whether a defendant should be classified as a sexually violent
predator, a SOAB expert conducts an assessment of the defendant.
An assessment shall include, but not be limited to, an examination
of the following:
(1) Facts of the current offense, including:
(i) Whether the offense involved multiple victims.
(ii) Whether the individual exceeded the means necessary
to achieve the offense.
(iii) The nature of the sexual contact with the victim.
(iv) Relationship of the individual to the victim.
(v) Age of the victim.
(vi) Whether the offense included a display of unusual
cruelty by the individual during the commission of the
crime.
(vii) The mental capacity of the victim.
(2) Prior offense history, including:
(i) The individual's prior criminal record.
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(ii) Whether the individual completed any prior sentences.
(iii) Whether the individual participated in available
programs for sexual offenders.
(3) Characteristics of the individual, including:
(i) Age.
(ii) Use of illegal drugs.
(iii) Any mental illness, mental disability or mental abnormality.
(iv) Behavioral characteristics that contribute to the individual's
conduct.
(4) Factors that are supported in a sexual offender assessment field as
criteria reasonably related to the risk of re-offense.
42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(b).
The purpose of the SOAB expert's assessment is to determine whether the defendant meets the
statutory requirements for sexually violent predator status. Dixon, 907 A.2d at 536. The proper
inquiry is "whether he or she suffers from 'a mental abnormality or personality disorder that
makes [him or her] likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses.'" Commonwealth v.
Fuentes, 991 A.2d 935, 943 (Pa. Super. 2010) (citations omitted). "Mental abnormality" is "[aJ
congenital or acquired condition of a person that affects the emotional or volitional capacity of
the person in a manner that predisposes that person to the commission of criminal sexual acts to
a degree that makes the person a menace to the health and safety of other persons." 42 Pa.C.S. §
9799.12; Commonwealth v. Meals, 912 A.2d 213, 218 (Pa. 2006) (citations omitted).
"Predatory" is defined as "[a]n act directed at a stranger or at a person with whom a relationship
has been initiated, established, maintained or promoted, in whole or in part, in order to facilitate
or support victimization." 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.12; Meals, 912 A.2d at 218-19.
After the expert completes an assessment, the Commonwealth may schedule a hearing to
determine a defendant's SVP status. Meals, 912 A.2d at 218. As noted above, at the hearing, the
Commonwealth has the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant
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is a SVP. 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24(e). Further, the trial court has the ultimate authority to
determine whether the Commonwealth has met that burden. Krouse, 799 A.2d at 839.
Often when determining whether to classify an offender as a SVP, the court will consider
expert psychological and psychiatric testimony on the questions of "sexually violent predator"
and "mental abnormality." Commonwealth v. Dengler, 843 A.2d 1241 (Pa. Super. 2004). The
Superior Court has held that a Frye hearing is not necessary when this testimony is used to
determine whether a sex offender met the criteria for a SVP because it is not novel scientific
evidence. Id. A Frye hearing is a hearing held for the trial court to determine whether the general
scientific community has reached a general acceptance of the principles and methodology used
by the expert witness. Frye v. United States, 293 F. 1013 (D.C.Cir.1923). Novel scientific
evidence is inadmissible if the methodology that underlies the evidence is not generally accepted
in the relevant community. Commonwealth v. Walker, 92 A.3d 766, 789 (Pa. 2014).
II. Analysis
A. Mental Abnormality
In his first argument, Defendant correctly recognizes that a SVP determination requires
a showing that the Defendant suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder.
Defendant contends that hebephilia is not a recognized mental disorder because there is debate
within the scientific community as to whether hebephilia is a valid diagnosis. Consequently,
Defendant concludes that a hebephilia diagnosis is insufficient to satisfy the mental abnormality
or personality disorder required for a SVP determination. Based on this, Defendant concludes
that this Court should have held a Frye hearing to determine the reliability of the Defendant's
hebephilia diagnosis. Defendant's second issue is essentially a sufficiency of the evidence
challenge which also alleges that because hebephilia is not a recognized mental disorder there
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was no showing made that the Defendant suffered from a mental abnormality or personality
disorder. As such, the Court will address both issues simultaneously.
Preliminarily, it was conceded at the hearing that the Defendant committed an
enumerated offense that requires a SVP determination.4 It was also conceded at the hearing that
the Defendant's behavior was predatory. Therefore, we tum to the question of whether the
Defendant suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder that makes him likely to
engage in predatory sexually violent offenses. First we must determine whether the Defendant
actually suffers from hebephilia before deciding whether this diagnosis is sufficient to satisfy the
mental abnormality requirement of a SVP determination.
Less than three (3) weeks before the hearing, the Superior Court precisely addressed the
second issue before this Court. In Commonwealth v. Hollingshead, 111 A.3d 186 (Pa. Super.
2015), the Superior Court held that a trial court may conclude based on the facts of the case and
expert testimony, that a hebephilia diagnosis satisfies the mental abnormality requirement for
purposes of a SVP determination.
In Hollingshead the defendant pled guilty to one count of corruption of minors and
institutional sexual assault. Id. at 189. Following a hearing and briefs, the trial court ultimately
designated the Defendant a SVP and she appealed. Id. The defendant challenged the sufficiency
of the evidence relating to her SVP determination. Specifically, and identical to the instant
matter, the defendant argued that the mental abnormality relied upon by the Commonwealth and
its expert, hebephilia, was not a recognized mental disorder. Id. Further, the defendant contended
that the testimony of her expert, Dr. Timothy Foley, illustrated that she did not suffer from a
mental abnormality. Id. It is notable that Dr. Foley was also the Defendant's expert in the case at
bar and testified that the Defendant did not suffer from a mental abnormality.
4
Defendant pied guilty to rape pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 3121. (enumerated offense under 42 Pa. C.S. § 9799.14).
7
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Preliminarily, this Court believes the testimony at the hearing clearly illustrates that the
Defendant suffers from hebephilia. The Hollingshead Court noted that hebephilia is not a listed
disorder in the fourth or fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders. ("DSM"). This was also conceded by both experts in the instant matter. See N.T.
3/6/15 at 18-19, 52-53. Despite being absent from the DSM-5, the Commonwealth's expert
witness, Mr. Hays testified at the hearing that the SOAB "generally concurs that hebephilia is a
viable paraphilia even though it's not in the DSM-5." N.T. 3/6/15 at 18-19. Further, it is clear
that "[t]he statute does not require proof of a standard of diagnosis that is commonly found
and/or accepted in a mental health diagnostic paradigm. Id. quoting Commonwealth v. Lee, 935
A.2d 865 (Pa. 2007). At the hearing, /J\(.Hays testified:
A: Yes. We are guided by the statute.
Q: Does the statute require any diagnosis?
A: No, the statute does not require a psychological or psychiatric diagnosis. It's a
statutory definition. And while we do look at the DSM as a way of pinning, I don't know
how put it, but pinning the disorder we must take into consideration the entire history of
what occurred.
N.T. 3/6/15 at 20-21.
Similar to Hollingshead, Mr. Hays testified generally that the definition ofhebephilia includes a
sexual attraction to a post pubescent child. Id. at 19. This age range would be roughly between
11 and 15 years old. Id. Specifically regarding the Defendant, Mr. Hays testified on cross
examination that:
Q: Is it possible in your opinion that the motivation for the sexual
offending was something other than a psychiatric disorder?
A: I don't believe the record would support that, that conclusion. I
believe the record supports the fact that Mr. Haberman showed
sexual urges towards this child when she was 11 or 12 years old
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and he followed through with that, he continued to follow
through with that for six, seven years. I don't see any other
explanation that I could find in the record for the behavior.
( emphasis added).
Id. at 33.
The Defendant provided minimal evidence at the hearing disputing that he actually suffered from
hebephilia. Rather, the Defendant's expert Dr. Foley testified that hebephilia is not widely
accepted and because it is not included in the DSM-5, the diagnosis essentially does not exist.
Given that the Hollingshead Court has already recognized that hebephilia exists, we have little
trouble concluding that the Commonwealth sufficiently proved at the hearing that the Defendant
suffers from hebephilia.
With that initial concern resolved, we tum to the core question before this Court which is
whether a hebephilia diagnosis is sufficient to satisfy the mental abnormality or personality
disorder requirement. Defendant contends that hebephilia is not a recognized mental disorder and
that there is debate in the scientific community as to whether hebephilia is a valid diagnosis. This
is the basis of Defendant's argument that a Frye hearing should have been conducted and his
sufficiency of the evidence challenge. As noted, the Hollingshead Court directly resolved this
issue less than three weeks before the hearing in this case. The Hollingshead Court held that a
hebephilia diagnosis is sufficient for the trial court to find a mental abnormality if it is supported
by expert testimony and the facts in the case. Further, this holding is consistent with decisions
from various other states. See New Yorkv. Shannon S., 980 N.E.2d 510, 514-515 (2012), see
also Wamstad v. Corman, 845 N.W.2d 335 (N.D. 2014), see also Massachusetts v. McKinley, 5
N.E.3d 2 (table) (2014). This Court believes that the testimony of Mr. Hays was more than
sufficient to find that the Defendant's hebephilia diagnosis constituted a mental abnormality. For
example, at the hearing Ni.I. Hays testified:
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Q: So regarding a paraphilic disorder or paraphilia, it's your assessment the Defendant
does have that disorder or abnormity?
A: Yes. Based upon the scientific evidence, not based on whether the DSM-5 has
determined [hebephilia is] a paraphilia or not. It's scientific evidence and the evidence
the professionals in the field use to determine whether it is paraphilia or not. And
hebephilia by the board standards is a paraphilia. It makes a person likely to
commit sexually violent offenses in the future. (emphasis added).
Q: Okay. Now, as an expert in the field and as a board member, how does that
abnormality, specifically hebephilia, relate to your assessment regarding [the
Defendant's] status as a sexually violent predator?
A: I believe he meets the mental abnormality as paraphilia. It has no cure. It's a
lifetime disorder. (emphasis added)
N.T. 3/6/15 at 21-22.
Additionally, the decision in Hollingshead directly conflicts with much of the testimony
provided by Dr. Foley at the hearing. Specifically, Dr. Foley testified:
Q: Do you agree that while-let me ask you, are you saying that hebephilia, essentially
for you as a clinical psychologist, doesn't exist because it's not in the DSM-5?
A: It's not widely accepted. You know, hebephilia had its day in court over the last
couple of years where there was vigorous debate. And it failed. It was rejected. And
there's no mention of it. There's no hint of it. There's not even any mention of
adolescents.
I respect Mr. Hays' opinion. And I respect, you know, his references to Dr. Blanchard.
But Dr. Blanchard has an opinion. And the rest of the community-maybe I shouldn't
say it that way. I'm sure there are adherents to Blanchard's position. But they failed.
Id. at 64-65.
Although Dr. Foley may very well be correct that hebephilia was not successful in the debate
about whether it should be included in the DSM-5, it is unequivocally clear that the Hollingshead
Court and courts in sister states have found that hebephilia can be sufficient to satisfy the mental
abnormality or personality disorder for a SVP determination. This Court finds that the expert
testimony provided by Mr. Hays at the hearing was sufficient to find that the Defendant suffered
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from a mental abnormality. Consequently, a Frye hearing in this matter was unnecessary as the
scientific evidence was not novel because the Superior Court has already held that hebephilia can
be a sufficient basis for a finding of a mental abnormality. Furthermore, the majority of the
testimony provided at the hearing between the two experts dealt with the issue of whether
hebephilia is generally accepted in the scientific community. Therefore, the substantive issue that
a Frye hearing would have resolved was properly addressed at the hearing in this case.
B. Statutory Factors
Next, this Court turns to the 15 statutory factors we must consider. See 42 Pa.C.S. §
9799.24(b). At the hearing Mr. Hays testified in support of his recommendation, made to a
reasonable degree of professional certainty, that the Defendant met the statutory criteria of a
SVP. Regarding the first factor, it is clear that this case involves only one victim.5 As to the
second factor, Mr. Hays testified that although the Defendant did not use unnecessary violence to
achieve the offenses, he did use other force that exceeded the means necessary such as
preventing the victim from leaving, threatening her and her family, and threatening to kick her
out of the house if she told anyone. 6 Regarding the third factor, the nature of the sexual conduct
was forced penis-vaginal intercourse, forced fellatio, oral sex, fondling, and digital penetration of
the victim's vagina all of which occurred for roughly six years.7 The fourth factor in this case
was particularly concerning as the Defendant was the victim's stepfather which gave him
significant control over the victim which he consistently exploited. 8 Fifth, the abuse began when
5
However, as our Superior Court has stated, "the fact that Appellant sexually abused only one child, his
[grand]daughter," does not "undermine" such a determination, particularly considering "the predatory nature of
[Defendant's] behavior and the numerous acts, over a period of years, perpetrated upon_ the victim against her
will." Commonwealth v. W.H.M., Jr., 932 A.2d 155, 166 (Pa. Super. 2007).
6
N.T. 3/6/15 at 14.
7
Id. at 15.
8
Id. at 15-16.
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9
the victim was 12 years old and lasted roughly until she was 18 or 19 years old. Mr. Hays was
unable to conclude whether the sixth factor, displaying unusual cruelty during the commission of
the offense, was a factor in the offenses.l"
Regarding the seventh factor, although the victim had normal mental capacity, the
Defendant did use the vulnerability of their family relationship to abuse her .11 As to the eighth,
ninth, and tenth factors, the Defendant had no prior offenses or sex offender treatment programs
12
and just one prior criminal offense. Regarding the eleventh factor, the Defendant is currently 5 5
years old. As to the twelfth factor, there was no clear indication that the Defendant used illegal
drugs during the time of the offenses." The thirteenth factor, whether the Defendant suffers from
a mental abnormality, was discussed at great lengths above and this Court concludes that the
Defendant's diagnosis ofhebephilia is sufficient to show he suffers from a mental abnormality.
As to the fourteenth factor, the Defendant's behavioral characteristics that contributed to his
conduct were repeated sexual deviance towards a post pubescent juvenile female that he had the
opportunity to sexually assault whenever he desired.14 Additionally, this Court finds that there
are no other circumstances relevant to the SVP inquiry. Finally, Mr. Hays testified that because
hebephilia has no cure, it is a lifetime condition, and the Defendant is likely to reoffend given the
opportunity.
As highlighted, the Defendant presented testimony of Dr. Foley to rebut the testimony of
Mr. Hays. However, a majority of Dr. Foley's testimony was consistent with the conclusions of
9
Id. at 16.
10
Id. at 16-17.
11
N.T. 3/6/15 at 17.
12
Id. The Defendant's prior criminal offense was a drug conviction.
13
Although there were no official reports of illegal drug use by the Defendant, Mr. Hays did include in his report
that the victim's diary indicated that the Defendant smoked marijuana in the family home and attempted to get
her to smoke marijuana and drink alcohol in the family home. Com. Exhibit# 1 at 5.
14
Com. Exhibit# 1 at 5.
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Mr. Hays regarding the fifteen statutory factors. The major difference in Dr. Foley's testimony
was regarding factor thirteen, whether the Defendant suffered from a mental abnormality. This
issue has been exhaustively discussed and resolved above. Further, the remaining portions of Dr.
Foley's testimony dealt primarily with the Defendant's risk of recidivism.
After hearing testimony, this Court noted the Hollingshead opinion and stated:
The Court: The mental abnormality requirement is satisfied with
the determination that [the Defendant] does have a condition which
is the impetus to his sexual offending; that it is a lifetime
condition; and that the condition overrode his ability to control it
volitionally.
And I'll note from the Hollingshead opinion that was filed
February 19th of this year, the Superior Court clearly stated that,
first, recognized that there is a debate about hebephilia and their
use in SVP proceedings but said it goes to the weight of the expert
witness's testimony.
The Superior Court concluded that a trial court may conclude
based upon the expert testimony and facts in a given case a
hebephilia diagnosis is sufficient to find that mental abnormality.
That's what I am finding today based on the testimony and report
of Mr. Hays who's [sic] considered the statutory factors also in his
encompassing conclusion that Mr. Haberman meets the
requirement for sexually violent predator designation.
I also rely on the language in Hollingshead that noted Dr. Foley's
report in that case was lacking with his focus on the risk of
recidivism and that focus was misplaced. The risk of reoffending is
but one factor to be considered when making an assessment. It's an
independent element.
So again I emphasize encompassing the opinion of Mr. Hays in
looking at all the factors in reaching the conclusion that the
Commonwealth has met its burden. So [ the Defendant] will be
designated a sexually violent predator and requested to register as
such.
N.T. 3/6/15 at 78-80.
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Accordingly, this Court credited the written report and testimony of Mr. Hays and did not find
the testimony of Dr. Foley regarding whether Defendant suffered from a mental abnormality and
his risk of recidivism to be convincing or compelling.
This Court did not err in classifying the Defendant as a SVP. The Commonwealth
presented clear and convincing evidence to conclude the Defendant suffers from "a mental
abnormality or personality disorder that makes [him] likely to engage in predatory sexually
violent offenses." Fuentes, 991 A.2d at 943 (citations omitted). This Court believes that
pursuant to the decision in Hollingshead, that the expert testimony and facts in the instant matter
were sufficient to find that Defendant's hebephilia diagnosis constituted a mental abnormality.
Furthermore, Mr. Hays' analysis of the fifteen statutory factors was credible and supports the
determination that the Defendant is a SVP.
CONCLUSION
Pursuant to its authority, this Court did not err when it found the Defendant to be a
sexually violent predator as the classification was based on clear and convincing evidence.
Further, this Court did not err by failing to hold a Frye hearing in this matter. For all the reasons
stated herein, this Court respectfully requests that the Superior Court dismiss the appeal of the
Defendant.
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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF THE 39111 JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
FRANKLIN COUNTY BRANCH
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, CriminalAction/
No. 76-2012
vs.
Robert Haberman,
Defendant Honorable Carol L. Van Horn
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW THIS JJ~ day of May, 2015, pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.193l(c),
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk of Courts of Franklin County
shall promptly transmit to the Prothonotary of the Superior .Court the record in this matter
along with the attached Opinion sur Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a).
Pursuant to Pa.R. Crim P. 114, the Clerk of Courts shall immediately docket this Opinion
and Order of Court and record in the docket the date it was made. The Clerk shall forthwith
furnish a copy of the Opinion and Order of Court, by mail or personal delivery, to each party or
attorney, and shall record in the docket the time and manner thereof
By the Court,
Carol L. Van Hom, J.
copies:
Matthew D. Fogal, Esq., Franklin County District Attorney
Tammy Dusharm, Esq., Counsel for Defendant
15
Circulated 10/01/2015 02:23 PM
Robert Haberman
76-2012
May 22, 2015, I Martha Burkholder, served a copy of the Order signed
May 22, 2015 by Judge Van Hom on the following persons by the stated method.
Interoffice Mail: Franklin County District Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office
\rv\.ru t!hAU\ 1 J ~L_Deputy Clerk