In Re The Detention Of: Darin Dillingham ( 2013 )

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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION ONE
In the Matter of the Detention of No. 68147-8-1
DARIN DILLINGHAM, UNPUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant. FILED: August 5, 2013
Verellen, J. — Darin Dillingham appeals from the order committing him to the
custody of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) pursuant to a jury
verdict determining that he was a sexually violent predator (SVP) as defined by
RCW 71.09.060. He first contends the State failed to present sufficient evidence to
establish that he had both a mental abnormality and a personality disorder, and that the
trial court therefore erred by failing to give the jury a unanimity instruction or special
verdict form to establish that they unanimously agreed as to which of these alternative
means had been proved. He next argues that his diagnosed antisocial personality
disorder does not meet the definition of a "personality disorder." Finally, he argues
there was insufficient evidence that he presently met the definition of an SVP. Because
the State presented sufficient evidence that Dillingham presently had both a mental
abnormality and a personality disorder, there was sufficient evidence to support the
No. 68147-8-1/2
jury's verdict on both alternative means, and the trial court did not err by not giving a
unanimity instruction or a special verdict form. Accordingly, we affirm.
FACTS
Dillingham was previously committed as an SVP in 2003 in Snohomish County
Superior Court. His commitment was based in part on his 1985 conviction for indecent
liberties against a child under 14, his 1989 convictions for three counts of indecent
liberties and child molestation against two children, and his 1993 convictions for
attempted indecent liberties by forcible compulsion and attempted first degree child
molestation, both against a six-year-old girl.1 His commitment was also based on his
diagnoses of paraphilia-pedophilia and antisocial personality disorder.
Dillingham's SVP status was reviewed annually by the Department of Social and
Health Services (DSHS), as required by RCW 71.09.070. Dillingham was annually
informed of his right to petition the superior court for release. The annual evaluation
reports were submitted to the court. Each year, the court conducted a show cause
hearing, in which Dillingham and the State appeared through counsel, to determine
whether Dillingham was entitled to a trial on whether he should be unconditionally
released to a less-restrictive alternative.
1Between 1985 and 1993, Dillingham was convicted for (1) indecent liberties
against a 22-year-old woman; (2) indecent liberties against a nine-year-old girl;
(3) second degree rape against an adult woman incapable of consent;
(4) communication with a minor for immoral purposes against a four-year-old girl;
(5) indecent liberties against a four-year-old girl; (6) three counts of indecent liberties
against a child and child molestation against an approximately four to six-year-old girl
and an approximately six to eight-year-old boy; (7) communication with a minor for
immoral purposes against a 14-year-old girl; and (8) attempted indecent liberties by
forcible compulsion and attempted first degree child molestation against a six-year-old
girl.
No. 68147-8-1/3
In 2010, Dillingham petitioned the superior court for release. Based on the
expert opinion of Dr. Louis Rosell, the court concluded that Dillingham met his burden of
producing prima facie evidence that his condition had changed to the extent that he no
longer met the definition of a sexually violent predator. Dillingham was granted a new
trial pursuant to RCW 71.09.090 to determine whether he continued to meet the
statutory definition of an SVP.
At trial, psychologist John Hupka, Ph.D.,2 testified about his interview of
Dillingham, his review of Dillingham's records,3 and tests he administered to Dillingham.
He diagnosed Dillingham using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR)
definitions of mental disorders, the reference generally accepted in the discipline of
psychology.
First, Dr. Hupka diagnosed Dillingham with pedophilia, which he defined as
"sexual attraction to children."4 He explained that Dillingham met all ofthe DSM-IV-TR
criteria for pedophilia, including the facts that
his sexual attraction to children has continued into his young adulthood.
It's not just a passing fantasy with him. It's not just something that he
engaged in once when he was drunk and never did it again. This is an
ongoing pattern.
2After earning his Ph.D. in 1990, Dr. Hupka worked for the California Department
of Corrections conducting psychological evaluations and assessments of potential
parolees. Dr. Hupka estimated he had conducted approximately 800 evaluations or
assessments of sex offenders since 1996, 700 or more of which were to determine
whether they met statutory criteria for commitment as an SVP.
3 Dr. Hupka described Dillingham's record as "voluminous," consisting of
"thousands of pages of documents" including police reports of his prior offenses,
probation officers' reports, prior mental health records and sex offender treatment
records. Report of Proceedings (RP) (Dec. 1, 2011) at 236.
4 Id. at 265.
No. 68147-8-1/4
Mr. Dillingham does fantasize about children, he does masturbate
to those fantasies. More importantly in his case, he acts out repeatedly
with sexual molestation of children, despite arrest and conviction and
incarceration again and again.[5]
Second, Dr. Hupka diagnosed Dillingham with antisocial personality disorder. He
testified that (1) Dillingham failed to conform to societal norms, as evidenced by his
behavior and his history of arrests and parole violations; (2) Dillingham had "an element
of deceitfulness about him," as evidenced by his refusal to acknowledge or discuss the
details of his offenses, and claiming not to remember; (3) Dillingham was impulsive,
"particularly in the realm of his sexual behavior. He has sex with two year olds, four
year olds, seven year olds, 60 year olds. He's pretty indiscriminate about if he has an
impulse, he'll go for it"6; (4) Dillingham "[cjlearly ... has disregard for the safety and
rights of his victims. He gives little thought to how the rape of children would affect
them"7; (5) Dillingham has "little remorse when it comes to his offenses," has "no
conception of how his offense behaviors have affected his victims," and is "not
particularly motivated or inclined to be interested in that"8; and (6) Dillingham failed to
maintain consistent behavior or honor financial obligations, noting that he had little
history of work and that his mother typically supported him when in the community.
Dr. Hupka concluded Dillingham met the DSM-IV-TR definition because he "certainly
has more than three" ofthe criteria, and is over 18 years old.9 Dr. Hupka clarified that,
5 Id at 266, 268.
6]d, at 280.
7JcL
8 Id, at 281.
9 Id.
No. 68147-8-1/5
for Dillingham, "both his pedophilia and his antisocial personality disorder [are] chronic,
lifelong conditions."10
Dr. Hupka testified that Dillingham's antisocial traits, such as selfishness and
disregard of others, manifested in the offenses underlying his 1989 indecent liberties
and child molestation convictions:
He said that he knew that it wasn't okay to molest the children, but
he said that it was a way of getting his sexual needs met and he was
pretty much just thinking about himself. Wasn't thinking that it was hurting
them.1111
Dr. Hupka also testified that Dillingham did not cooperate with supervision,
explaining that he "didn't register [as a sex offender] like he was supposed to" and
"absconded supervision."12 Dr. Hupka explained this was typical of someone who
"lacks responsibility for their behavior."13 Moreover, Dr. Hupka testified that Dillingham's
test results were also consistent with his antisocial personality disorder diagnosis.
Dr. Hupka described Dillingham's test result as a "spike 4," which indicated specific
concerns:
This is . . . typical with people who are selfish, don't have regard for
other people's feelings. They tend to live by their own rules. They don't
learn from their mistakes. . ..
Individuals who are antisocial and have a spike 4 profile tend to not
be good candidates for treatment because—and since they live by their
own rules they tend not to cooperate with supervision. The general rule, if
10 jd, at 276.
11 Id, at 251.
12 IdL at 257.
13 Id.
No. 68147-8-1/6
released in the community from prison, they typically abscond [from
parole] or reoffend sooner or later and get back in custody.f14]
Third, Dr. Hupka diagnosed Dilligham with substance abuse. He testified that
Dillingham's use of drugs and/or alcohol was closely linked to his offenses. Dillingham
denied having had any contact with most of the victims, but admitted to Dr. Hupka that
he "was always drunk or high on every one of my offenses."15
Special Commitment Center (SCC) psychologist Joe Mitrovich, Ph.D., testified
about his work with Dillingham. Dr. Mitrovich testified that he was concerned that
Dillingham's antisocial traits interfered with his ability to engage in the therapeutic
process and increased Dillingham's risk of reoffending:
[Dillingham] continued to . .. manifest some very antisocial
thinking, [including] referring to the residential staff as police, [displaying]
victim stance type mentality, which is one of those thinking barriers . . .
indicative of criminal type thinking, you know, I wasn't wrong in the
situation, it was the other person type thinking.[16]
He testified that Dillingham showed a "general lack of transparency" about his
relationship with a woman while in DSHS custody, especially since the woman had
children.17 This was concerning, because it showed a "lack of insight into ... a pretty
significant risk factor" for reoffending if he was released.18 Dr. Mitrovich explained that
Dillingham's unwillingness to participate fully in counseling increased the likelihood he
would reoffend:
14 Id at 240.
15 Id at 244.
16RP(Nov. 30, 2011) at 165.
17 id at 173.
18 Id. at 174.
No. 68147-8-1/7
[H]aving an understanding of the treatment concept such as risk factors,
and in particular what's referred to as dynamic risk factors, which are a set
of things that have been identified in the research in this area, like .. .
sexual preoccupation, sexual coping, deviant sexual interest, sexual
entitlement, child molester attitudes .... [T]he essence of treatment is
having an understanding of those and being able to recognize how they
have manifested in your life, how they contributed to you engaging in the
act of offending, to understand the distortions that are related to those risk
factors, and then . . . just having the ability to have insight into those,
recognize them when they start coming up, and having the ability to
effectively intervene once they're recognized.
And so if someone is developing a relationship like it seemed he
was and isn't talking about it, isn't recognizing how it could be a risk factor
for him, isn't doing those things, it seems like, like I said, there is a lack of
insight or just ignoring of what could be a risk factor.'191
Dr. Mitrovich explained that Dillingham's refusal to cooperate with supervision "is a risk
factor that's been identified in the literature as having a strong correlation with
recidivism."20 When asked what Dillingham would need to work on in treatment,
Dr. Mitrovich identified the following:
You know, there is a set of risk factors for him, namely being
negative emotionality, hostility, the lack of cooperation with supervision,
the lack of concern for others. ... the lack of transparency we've talked
about, those are all areas that need to be improved for Mr. Dillingham.1211
Dillingham testified about antisocial personality disorder. The prosecutor asked,
"Do you believe that you suffer from antisocial personality disorder?"22 Dillingham
answered, "I can't say that I do or I don't. I do have I guess you can say some traits of
antisocial personality disorder."23 The prosecutor then asked, "But you agree you've
19 id at 174-75.
20 \± at 176.
21 id at 177.
22 id at 104.
23 Id.
No. 68147-8-1/8
been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder throughout your life?"24 Dillingham
answered, "I agree that I have been, yes, by psychologists."25
Dillingham also testified that he had substance abuse issues, and described the
relationship between his substance abuse and his acts of sexual violence. He testified
that his substance abuse has "gradually gotten worse and worse throughout my life."26
Dillingham revealed that drinking and using drugs was part of a pattern when he
repeatedly committed indecent liberties and child molestation against two young
children left in his care many times over an extended period. In fact, he testified that he
was under the influence of drugs or alcohol "[e]very time Ioffended."27 He testified that
in 1985, he committed a sexual assault against his brother's wife after "drinking and
doing drugs with my friends."28 He also acknowledged that after drinking with friends,
he committed acts against a 16-year-old girl that led to him being charged with rape.
Before closing arguments, defense counsel proposed a special verdict form
requiring the jury to answer whether they specifically found that the State proved a
mental abnormality and whether they specifically found the State proved a personality
disorder. The State opposed the court providing a special verdict form.
Following trial, the jury determined that Dillingham is a sexually violent predator,
pursuant to RCW 71.09.060. The trial court ordered him committed to the custody of
DSHS.
24
Id,
25
Id,
26
id at 110.
27
i4 at 148.
28
Id. at 114.
8
No. 68147-8-1/9
Dillingham appeals.
ANALYSIS
Dillingham raises three related arguments in this appeal. First, he contends
there was insufficient evidence that he had both a mental abnormality and a personality
disorder and no special verdict was given requiring juror unanimity as to which of these
alternative means the jury found established. Second, he argues there was evidence of
multiple distinguishable conditions that could establish a mental abnormality and he was
entitled to a jury instruction requiring unanimity as to which the jury found proved. Third,
he asserts there was insufficient evidence that he continued to have a mental illness.
None of his arguments establish that he is entitled to appellate relief.
Alternative Means
While SVP involuntary commitment proceedings are civil in nature, a defendant
in such proceedings is entitled to due process protections that include a unanimous jury
verdict.29 Chapter71.09 RCW allows indefinite commitment as an SVP where the jury
finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the person has been convicted of a crime of
sexual violence and "suffers from a mental abnormality or personality disorder which
makes the person likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined in
a secure facility."30 "Mental abnormality" is defined as:
[A] congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional
capacity which predisposes the person to the commission of criminal
29 RCW 71.09.060(1); see also In re Detention of Halqren. 156 Wash. 2d 795, 807-
08, 132 P.3d 714 (2006); In re Pers. Restraint of Young, 122 Wash. 2d 1, 48, 857 P.2d 989
(1993).
30 RCW 71.09.020(18).
No. 68147-8-1/10
sexual acts in a degree constituting such person a menace to the health
and safety of others.'311
"Personality disorder" is defined as:
[A]n enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates
markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, is pervasive and
inflexible, has onset in adolescence or early adulthood, is stable over time
and leads to distress or impairment.'321
These definitions were provided in the court's jury instructions.
Dillingham is correct that a personality disorder and a mental abnormality are two
alternative means of establishing the mental illness element of an SVP commitment
determination.33 However, these alternative means "may operate independently or may
work in conjunction."34 And "because an SVP may suffer from both defects
simultaneously, the mental illnesses are not repugnant to each other and may inhere in
the same transaction."35 Accordingly, where there is substantial evidence that a
defendant has both a mental abnormality and a personality disorder, the trial court does
not violate the constitutional right to unanimity by failing to instruct the jury that it must
reach unanimous agreement as to which condition it found satisfied that element.36 Put
differently:
Where an element may be established by alternative means, a
particularized expression of unanimity as to the means relied upon to
31 RCW 71.09.020(8).
32 RCW 71.09.020(9).
33 See In re Detention of Halqren, 156 Wash. 2d 795, 811, 132 P.3d 714 (2006); In
re Detention of Pouncv, 144 Wash. App. 609, 618, 184 P.3d 651 (2008).
34 Halqren, 156 Wash. 2d at 810.
35 id
36 Id. at 811-12.
10
No. 68147-8-1/11
reach the verdict is not required so long as there is substantial evidence to
support a verdict on each alternative.'3^
The substantial evidence test is satisfied if this court is convinced that "a rational trier of
fact could have found each means of committing the crime proved beyond a reasonable
doubt."38 In reviewing a record for substantial evidence, this court will not second guess
the credibility determinations ofthe jury.39
This court's opinion in In re Detention ofTiceson is pertinent to our review.40
Ticeson conceded the State presented sufficient evidence to prove that he suffered
from a mental abnormality and a personality disorder, but argued that the State failed to
present evidence sufficient to prove this personality disorder made him likely to
reoffend.41 This court concluded that the State's expert witness's testimony that
"Ticeson's personality disorder causes him serious difficulty controlling his sexually
violent behavior" was "sufficient to allow a rational juror to find Ticeson's personality
disorder makes him likely to reoffend," and thus adequately supported the verdict.42
Like Ticeson, Dillingham does not contend there was insufficient evidence that
he has a mental abnormality that predisposes him to acts of sexual violence. Dr.
37 In re Detention of Ticeson, 159 Wash. App. 374, 388-89, 246 P.3d 550 (2011)
(citing Halqren, 156 Wash. 2d at 809).
38 State v. Kitchen, 110 Wash. 2d 403, 410-11, 756 P.2d 105 (1988) (emphasis
omitted).
39 State v. Jeannotte, 133 Wash. 2d 847, 853-54, 947 P.2d 1192 (1997) (quoting
State v. Snider, 70 Wash. 2d 326, 327, 422 P.2d 816 (1967)).
40 159 Wash. App. 374, 246 P.3d 550 (2011).
41 id at 388.
42 Id. at 388-89.
11
No. 68147-8-1/12
Hupka's testimony amply supports the conclusion that Dillingham's pedophilia
predisposed him to commit acts of sexual violence.
As was true in Ticeson. Dillingham's argument that there was insufficient
evidence that his personality disorder made him more likely to commit acts of sexual
violence fails. Like the State's expert witness in Ticeson. Dr. Hupka testified that
Dillingham's antisocial personality disorder increased the risk that he would commit
more acts of sexual violence. He testified that the combination of these conditions
presented a high risk:
I do believe he's an antisocial personality disordered man, but that's not
the whole story. He's also a sexually deviant man .... I think the
particular problem with him is that you have the combination of sexual
deviance, that is, the attraction to children and the desire for coercive sex
that he's shown.
So he has this sexual deviance, and because of the antisocial
personality disorder, he's not the least bit motivated to change that sexual
deviance. .. . That's a formidable combination.'431
Dr. Hupka also explained that Dillingham's substance abuse was another risk
factor that raised the likelihood that he would reoffend. The evidence at trial amply
demonstrated that substance abuse was nearly always a feature in Dillingham's attacks,
that his antisocial traits, such as selfishness, disregard for others, impulsiveness and
lack of remorse were integral to his commission of sexually violent acts.
The trial record contains substantial evidence from which the jury could have
found that Dillingham's antisocial personality disorder or substance abuse made him
more likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if not confined. There is no
43
RP(Dec. 1,2011) at 284-85.
12
No. 68147-8-1/13
requirement that the State prove that the antisocial personality disorder or substance
abuse, standing alone, makes Dillingham likely to reoffend.44 Dillingham provides no
authority to support his argument that all of his diagnoses must be considered without
regard to one another, as if in a vacuum. Such a conclusion would be contrary to our
Supreme Court's recognition that the various mental abnormalities and personality
disorders in a given case "may work in conjunction" to make one more likely to
reoffend.45
To the extent Dillingham argues that the State's closing argument deprived him
of a unanimous verdict, his argument is not persuasive. The State did not expressly or
impliedly argue that each of the two mental abnormalities (pedophilia and substance
abuse) or the personality disorder (antisocial personality disorder), standing alone,
established his status as an SVP. In addition, the jury was instructed that "the lawyers'
remarks, statements, and arguments are not evidence. You should disregard any
remark, statement, or argument that is not supported by the evidence or the law as I
have explained it to you.46 Juries are presumed to follow the court's instructions.47
Dillingham's argument that the antisocial personality disorder diagnosis did not
meet the definition of "personality disorder" because it was not "enduring, pervasive,
inflexible and stable over time" is not persuasive.48 Dr. Hupka testified that Dillingham's
44 See Halqren, 156 Wash. 2d at 807-11.
45 Id at 810.
46 Clerk's Papers at 7.
47 State v. Foster, 135 Wash. 2d 441, 472, 957 P.2d 712 (1998).
48 Appellant's Br. at 19.
13
No. 68147-8-1/14
antisocial personality disorder was a "chronic or lifelong condition! ]."49 This evidence
directly supports a reasonable conclusion that Dillingham's antisocial personality
disorder was stable and enduring.
There was sufficient evidence presented at trial to support the jury's verdict under
both alternative means in the SVP statute.
Means within a Means
Dillingham contends he was entitled to a jury instruction requiring juror unanimity
as to whether it found that the mental abnormality of substance abuse or pedophilia was
proved. This issue is controlled by In re Detention ofSease.50 In that case, the State
presented evidence that Sease had both borderline personality disorder and antisocial
personality disorder.51 Sease argued it was errorto not provide a unanimity instruction
since the State offered multiple diagnoses. Division Two of this court rejected the
argument, concluding that
the jury here need only have unanimously found that the State proved that
Sease suffered from a personality disorder that made it more likely that he
would engage in acts of sexual violence if not confined to a secure facility.
The jury need not have unanimously decided whether Sease suffered
from borderline personality disorder or antisocial personality disorder.
Therefore, the trial court did not err in failing to give a unanimity
instruction.'521
49RP(Dec. 1,2011) at 276.
50 149 Wash. App. 66, 201 P.3d 1078 (2009).
51 id at 71-72.
52 \± at 78-79. "[W]here a disputed instruction involves alternatives that may be
characterized as a 'means within [a] means,' the constitutional right to a unanimous jury
verdict is not implicated and the alternative means doctrine does not apply." id, at 77
(alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting State v. Smith, 159
Wash. 2d 778, 783, 154 P.3d 873 (2007)).
14
No. 68147-8-1/15
We disagree with Dillingham's argument that Sease was wrongly decided. We
agree with the analysis in Sease, and conclude that the State was not required to prove
which mental abnormality, substance abuse or pedophilia, it determined satisfied this
element. No unanimity instruction was required.
Continuing Mental Illness
Dillingham asserts there was insufficient evidence that he continued to have a
mental illness. We conclude that, to the contrary, the evidence at trial was sufficient to
support the jury's verdict. In particular, Dr. Hupka described the pedophilia and
antisocial personality disorders as chronic, and Dillingham himself testified that his
substance abuse had worsened over time. Dr. Hupka also explained that any remission
in Dillingham's overt symptoms were in large part attributable to his confinement.53
There was no error.
Affirmed.
WE CONCUR:
53 "Often antisocial fellows, when they're in prison, they do quite a bit better than
when they're in the community because they have an external structure." RP (Dec. 1,
2011) at 282. "I would say it's more typical[ ] that individuals do not reoffend in custody.
Two reasons: One, there is no children there. He doesn't have the opportunity. And
two, he has the structure of the institution Guards, staff members around, barbed
wire, can't go anywhere. That kind of containment, it's an external containment that
supplies a structure that he lacks within." ]d at 292.
15