In the Matter of James G. Younger ( 2024 )

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals
In the Matter of the Care and Treatment of James
Gregory Younger, Appellant.
Appellate Case No. 2021-000537
Appeal From Sumter County
George M. McFaddin, Jr., Circuit Court Judge
Unpublished Opinion No. 2024-UP-243
Submitted June 1, 2024 – Filed July 3, 2024
AFFIRMED
Appellate Defender David Alexander, of Columbia, for
Appellant.
Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson and Senior
Assistant Deputy Attorney General Deborah R.J. Shupe,
both of Columbia, for Respondent.
PER CURIAM: James Gregory Younger appeals an order of commitment issued
by the trial court after a jury found he was a sexually violent predator (SVP) under
the South Carolina Sexually Violent Predator Act.1 On appeal, Younger argues the
trial court erred in allowing an expert to discuss the details of uncharged sexual
offense accusations made against him because (1) the danger of unfair prejudice
1
S.C. Code Ann. §§ 44-48-10 to -170 (2018 & Supp. 2023).
outweighed the testimony's probative value, and (2) the testimony violated the
rules prohibiting hearsay. We affirm pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR.
1. We hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding the probative value
of the expert's testimony regarding Younger's uncharged criminal offenses was not
substantially outweighed by the risk of unfair prejudice. The expert relied on
Younger's previous offenses when diagnosing him and the testimony was highly
probative in establishing his propensity to commit similar acts in the future.
Further, the danger of unfair prejudice from the testimony did not substantially
outweigh its probative value because the expert's testimony, although graphic, was
relatively brief and only mentioned details that demonstrated Younger's pattern of
behavior. See State v. Huckabee, 419 S.C. 414, 423, 798 S.E.2d 584, 589 (Ct.
App. 2017) ("[This court] review[s] a trial court's decision regarding Rule 403 [of
the South Carolina Rules of Evidence] pursuant to the abuse of discretion standard
and [is] obligated to give great deference to the trial court's judgment."); id. ("A
trial court's decision regarding the comparative probative value and prejudicial
effect of evidence should be reversed only in exceptional circumstances." (quoting
State v. Adams, 354 S.C. 361, 378, 580 S.E.2d 785, 794 (Ct. App. 2003))); Rule
403, SCRE (stating relevant evidence "may be excluded if its probative value is
substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice"); Huckabee, 419 S.C.
at 423, 798 S.E.2d at 589 ("Unfair prejudice means an undue tendency to suggest a
decision on an improper basis." (quoting State v. Lyles, 379 S.C. 328, 338, 665
S.E.2d 201, 206 (Ct. App. 2008))); In re Care & Treatment of Ettel, 377 S.C. 558,
563, 660 S.E.2d 285, 287 (Ct. App. 2008) (finding the danger of unfair prejudice
from testimony regarding previous offenses in an SVP probable cause hearing did
not substantially outweigh its probative value because the expert relied on them to
determine a pattern of behavior and diagnose the individual with a mental
abnormality).
2. We hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the expert's
testimony regarding Younger's uncharged criminal offenses because she relied on
the information in diagnosing Younger; therefore, the testimony was admissible to
explain the information on which she based her opinion. See In re Care &
Treatment of Manigo, 389 S.C. 96, 106, 697 S.E.2d 629, 633-34 (Ct. App. 2010)
("The admissibility of an expert's testimony is within the trial [court]'s sound
discretion, whose decision will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion."); id.
at 106, 697 S.E.2d at 633 ("To constitute an abuse of discretion, the conclusions of
the trial [court] must lack evidentiary support or be controlled by an error of law.").
The expert testified she based her diagnosis on a pattern of behavior revealed by
Younger's criminal offenses, both those resulting in convictions as well as those
that did not result in a conviction or even formal charges. See § 44-48-30(1)
(stating a SVP is defined as a person who: "(a) has been convicted of a sexually
violent offense; and (b) suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder
that makes the person likely to engage in acts of sexual violence if not confined in
a secure facility for long-term control, care, and treatment"); Ettel, 377 S.C. at 562,
660 S.E.2d at 287-88 (explaining an expert witness may consider "both convictions
and offenses not resulting in convictions" when such offenses are relevant in
identifying a pattern of behavior and in evaluating the person's "need for and
likelihood of success in treatment as well as his ability to control his behavior in
the future"); Manigo, 389 S.C. at 106, 697 S.E.2d at 634 ("[A]n expert witness may
state an opinion based on facts not within his or her firsthand knowledge."); id.
("The expert may base his or her opinion on information, whether or not
admissible, made available before the hearing if the information is of the type
reasonably relied upon in the field to make opinions."); id. ("[A]n expert may
testify as to matters of hearsay for the purpose of showing what information he or
she relied on in giving an opinion of value.").
AFFIRMED. 2
THOMAS, MCDONALD, and VERDIN, JJ., concur.
2
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.