In the Matter of Robert B. Sharp

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 Supreme Court In the Matter of the Care and Treatment of Robert Brian Sharp, Appellant.

Appellate Case No. 2024-000553

Appeal from Florence County Bentley Price, Circuit Court Judge

Memorandum Opinion No. 2026-MO-012 Submitted November 17, 2025 – Filed June 17, 2026

REVERSED

Senior Appellate Defender Lara Mary Caudy, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Alan McCrory Wilson and Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General Christopher Runyan, both of Columbia, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: Following a trial, Appellant Robert Sharp was civilly committed in accordance with the Sexually Violent Predator Act. See generally S.C. Code Ann. §§ 44-48-10 to -180 (2018). Sharp appealed, arguing the circuit court erred in admitting evidence of the results of his penile plethysmography test (PPG) because the test is inherently unreliable. We certified his appeal from the court of appeals pursuant to Rule 204(b), SCACR. In line with our recent decision in In re Care & Treatment of Hyman, Op. No. 28330 (S.C. Sup. Ct. filed May 13, 2026) (Howard Adv. Sh. No. 18 at 37), we find the circuit court erred in admitting evidence of the results of Sharp's PPG at trial. Further, we do not find the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We therefore reverse and remand this case for a new commitment trial consistent with the guidance provided in Hyman.

REVERSED.

KITTREDGE, C.J., FEW, JAMES, HILL and VERDIN, JJ., concur.