State v. Castillo
State v. Castillo
Opinion of the Court
Heriberto Castillo, Jr., appeals from his ch. 980, STATS., commitment to the Wisconsin Resource Center as a sexually violent person. Castillo contends, inter alia, that his due process rights were violated when the modified commitment order allowed the State to "retain the benefit of its bargain [Castillo's admission to the petition's allegations and waiver of his
In May 1990, at the age of fourteen, Castillo was adjudicated delinquent on two counts of first-degree sexual assault for having had sexual intercourse with his sister.
Prior to his scheduled release date, the State filed a petition to have Castillo committed as a sexually violent person, see § 980.015(2), STATS., and thereby postpone his release and order his commitment for continuing treatment. A probable cause hearing was held. At that hearing, a psychologist testified for the State that Castillo had a mental disorder, paraphilia, which involves choosing and fantasizing about sexual partners who are inappropriate, either by virtue of
The court found probable cause to believe that Castillo was a sexually violent person under ch. 980, Stats. However, two mental health experts and the State agreed that supervised release was appropriate. This was in recognition of the ch. 980 requirement that "[t]he department shall arrange for control, care and treatment of the person in the least restrictive manner . . . ." Section 980.06(2)(b), STATS. The State attempted to reach a settlement in order to enter the commitment order specifying supervised release.
While these negotiations were ongoing, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) prepared and filed a predispositional report which recommended institutional placement. Section 980.06(1), Stats., places responsibility for the "control, care and treatment" of any person found to be sexually violent with DHSS. According to the State, DHSS was not supporting community based supervision "because they don't have a place to put him." Discussions between the State, Castillo's counsel and DHSS followed in an attempt to secure community-based supervision and release. In January 1995, Castillo
DHSS attempted to place Castillo in a community-based setting.
Within two weeks, Cephas House, although initially receptive to the placement, declined to accept Castillo. This was based on public reaction to the placement, which had caused LSS to fear that the town would take zoning action against it. Its landlord also threatened not to renew the Cephas House lease if Castillo were placed there. The alternative, placing Castillo in a private apartment under the supervision of a private social worker, was then ordered. This option failed after media attention was focused on Castillo living at the apartment building and the landlord bowed to community pressure by refusing to rent to DHSS.
The State then brought a motion to reopen Castillo's dispositional order and modify it to an
We begin with an analysis of the State's filing of the motion for reconsideration after it became apparent that the State would be unable to fulfill the community placement agreement. A trial court has inherent power to vacate or modify an order. See § 807.03, STATS. The trial court's power to amend its earlier order when it became apparent that DHSS would be unable to place Castillo in a community-based setting is not at issue. See Servatius v. Pickel, 30 Wis. 507, 508-09 (1872).
Our analysis of the legal effect of the State's motion to revise the dispositional order and the trial court's subsequent modification of that order requires that we apply the principles of fundamental fairness and due process to the facts of the case. We review de novo the application of constitutional principles to undisputed facts. See State v. Comstock, 163 Wis. 2d 218, 221, 471 N.W.2d 596, 597 (Ct. App. 1991), rev'don other grounds, 168 Wis. 2d 915, 485 N.W.2d 354 (1992).
The supreme court has determined that the provisions of ch. 980, Stats., are constitutional. See State v. Carpenter, 197 Wis. 2d 252, 276, 541 N.W.2d 105, 114 (1995); see also State v. Post, 197 Wis. 2d 279, 293-94, 541 N.W.2d 115, 118 (1995). Furthermore, ch. 980 includes several sections which outline certain rights afforded to persons who face commitment
At its most fundamental level, due process concerns the right to be treated fairly. The law is clear that when an individual has given up the right to a jury trial by pleading guilty, fundamental fairness requires that the individual's expectations be fulfilled. See State v. Wills, 187 Wis. 2d 529, 537, 523 N.W.2d 569, 572 (Ct. App. 1994).
The United States Supreme Court has stated, "[W]hen a plea rests in any significant degree on a promise or agreement of the prosecutor, so that it can be said to be part of the inducement or consideration, such promise must be fulfilled." Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257, 262 (1971). This is reiterated in State v. Bond, 139 Wis. 2d 179, 187, 407 N.W.2d 277, 280 (Ct. App. 1987), when it states that a prosecutorial promise is considered binding and must be fulfilled. This court went on to note that the due process analysis which underpins the law that a prosecutorial agreement with a defendant is binding also has applicability in bargaining contexts outside of plea bargains. Id. at 188, 407 N.W.2d at 281. As we there concluded, "Essentially, any violation of a prosecutorial promise triggers considerations of fundamental fairness and is a deprivation of due process." Id.
The State disputes this analysis and contends that because Castillo's commitment was a civil proceeding, no "plea agreement" was ever reached. We are not persuaded. Under the language of Santobello and Bond, the designation of the proceeding as civil or criminal is immaterial; rather, the fact that due process rights were waived in exchange for an inducement is critical.
The State further argues that even if the negotiations between Castillo and the State amounted to a plea agreement, it has not breached that agreement because it recommended supervised release. While at the outset the State was a proponent of Castillo's supervision in a community-based setting, this argument ignores the role the State played in seeking a modification of the dispositional order.
If the department alleges that a released person has violated any condition or rule, or that the safety of others requires that supervised release be revoked ... it may revoke the order for supervised release.... [Emphasis added.]
We disagree. This section pertains only to released persons who are already under the custody and control of DHSS. Castillo was never released. Furthermore, the language the State omitted after the word "revoked" states, "[H]e or she may be taken into custody under the rules of the department." See id.
In sum, Castillo waived his right to a jury trial and admitted to the allegations in the ch. 980, STATS., petition after the State agreed that he would be placed in a community-based setting. See § 980.05, STATS. Castillo's counsel stated that this was done to enable the trial court to order DHSS to locate a community-based facility where Castillo would be under supervised release rather than institutionalized. The agreement also foreclosed Castillo's unmonitored return to the community.
DHSS was unable to locate a ch. 980, Stats., community placement that would accept Castillo, and the State moved to modify the dispositional order to direct institutional placement. The trial court granted the State's motion and revised the order, committing Castillo to an institution, the Wisconsin Resource Center. We conclude that Castillo's admission to the allegations in the underlying petition was akin to a plea agreement and hold that when the State failed to adhere to its bargained promise, regardless of the reason, the trial court was required to allow Castillo an opportunity to withdraw his plea admitting to the petition.
Under the facts of this case, the court determined that specific performance of the State's agreement was not possible. Castillo remains in custody because of his detrimental reliance on the State's proffered plan for noninstitutionalized release. We conclude that the appropriate remedy is to return Castillo "to the position he occupied before he entered into the agreement." See Beckes, 100 Wis.2d at 7, 300 N.W.2d at 874. Since the State was unable to keep its part of the plea agreement that Castillo be placed under community-based supervision, he must be permitted to withdraw his no contest plea.
By the Court. — Orders reversed and cause remanded.
Castillo also contends that the trial court wrongly ordered an institutional placement after it had initially determined that a community placement was appropriate and that ch. 980, STATS., is unconstitutional as applied here because the State refused to make available the least restrictive placement option. Because we conclude that the benefit of the placement bargain is dispositive, we decline to address the other issues presented for review. See Sweet v. Berge, 113 Wis. 2d 61, 67, 334 N.W.2d 559, 562 (Ct. App. 1983). This is in keeping with the general rule that cases should be decided on the narrowest possible grounds. State v. Blalock, 150 Wis. 2d 688, 703, 442 N.W.2d 514, 520 (Ct. App. 1989).
The dispositional order also included two other counts of having had sexual intercourse with his sister, which were read in. At the time of the two charged incidents, Castillo's sister was nine years old.
The psychologist noted that in addition to having had sexual intercourse with his sister, Castillo had also sexually abused another child over the age of sixteen hut under the age of eighteen. He testified, "I felt that his sexual disorder manifests itself in a number of different ways, including but not limited, by any means, to children."
Placement in his father's home was ruled out because his father had a prior conviction himself for a sex offense.
While additional attempts were made to secure an apartment, these were also unsuccessful.
The pertinent portion of § 980.06(2)(d), Stats., reads:
If the department alleges that a released person has violated any condition or rule, or that the safety of others requires that supervised release be revoked, he or she may be taken into custody under the rules of the department. The department shall submit a statement showing probable cause of the detention and a petition to revoke the order for supervised release to the committing court and the regional office of the state public defender .... The state has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that any rule or condition of release has been violated, or that the safety of others requires that supervised release be revoked. If the court determines after hearing that any rule or condition of release has been violated, or that the safety of others requires that supervised release be revoked, it may revoke the order for supervised release
The original final dispositional order dated March 21, 1995, stated that "[o]n or before March 29, 1995, the Department shall physically place [Castillo] at the Cephas
Concurring Opinion
(concurring in part, dissenting in part). What saves the sexual predator law from being unconstitutional is its requirement that DHSS provide the defendant with treatment in the least restrictive manner possible, not the least restrictive treatment that DHSS has available. Since the trial court found that the least restrictive treatment for Heriberto Castillo, Jr., was supervised community placement, the difficulty that DHSS faced in locating an appropriate facility was not legitimate grounds for later ruling that Castillo should instead be placed at the Wisconsin Resource Center.
Because of the mandate that is placed on DHSS, I dissent from the part of the majority decision holding that Castillo's alternative request to set aside his plea agreement is the narrowest and most appropriate grounds on which to decide this case. Majority op. at 596 n.l. As counsel for the attorney general noted at oral argument, setting aside the plea agreement and permitting Castillo to pursue a trial on the merits will not "solve the problem." Because the evidence almost certainly points towards a conclusion that Castillo is a sexual predator, the trial court will again face the task of crafting a proper dispositional order.
However, even with my concerns regarding the application of the sexual predator law to Castillo, I still join the majority's decision to reverse the trial court's amended dispositional order that directed Castillo to the Wisconsin Resource Center. See majority op. at 603-04. But as I explained above, I would not remedy Castillo's claim by remanding this case for further proceedings and a possible trial. Rather, I would act on the suggestion to get to the merits. Here, I construe ch. 980, Stats., to require that DHSS provide Castillo with the community placement that the trial court
In the paragraphs below, I will further outline my beliefs regarding the demands that the sexual predator law places on DHSS when the State seeks commitment of a sexual predator. I will then show how this analysis applies to Castillo's claim that he is entitled to the form of commitment outlined in the original dispositional order.
DHSS's duty to give alleged sexual predators treatment in the "least restrictive manner consistent with the requirements of the person" is what makes ch. 980, Stats., constitutional. See § 980.06(2)(b). This mandate is readily discernable upon examination of the history leading to the attorney general's defense of the law in State v. Carpenter, 197 Wis.2d 252, 541 N.W.2d 105 (1995), and State v. Post, 197 Wis.2d 279, 541 N.W.2d 115 (1995).
The legislature developed ch. 980, STATS., in response to the public's outcry over the Gerald Turner case. Post, 197 Wis.2d at 343, 541 N.W.2d at 138-39 (Abrahamson, J., dissenting). The statements of the Governor and some of the other lawmakers, moreover, strongly suggest that the original intent of the law was to keep sex offenders locked away from the public at all costs. See id. at 343-45, 541 N.W.2d at 139. In fact, Justice Abrahamson grounded her dissenting conclusion that the law was unconstitutional on this evidence. Id. at 338, 541 N.W.2d at 136.
Nonetheless, when the attorney general's office had to defend attacks that the law had ex post facto and double jeopardy problems, it downplayed the confinement purpose and instead argued how the law
The statute's primary purpose of commitment of dangerous, mentally disordered persons in order to protect the public is revealed by the language and structure of the statute, which provides for commitment to the department of health and social services for control, care and treatment with provisions for the least restrictive placement and periodic review of the person's condition .... This basic structure and emphasis on the person's current condition are wholly consistent with a mental health commitment statute and wholly inconsistent with punishment.
Brief for State of Wisconsin at 12, State v. Carpenter, 197 Wis.2d 252, 541 N.W.2d 105 (1995) (Case No. 94-1898). The attorney general's office also tried to show the supreme court in Post how:
The statute is narrowly drawn to target those who are at highest risk to rape or molest again. It is narrowly drawn to serve only its legitimate public protection purpose — by incapacitation and treatment. The treatment is geared to reducing the risk of recidivism. And the incapacitation ends when that purpose is fulfilled.
Brief for State of Wisconsin at 45, State v. Post, 197 Wis.2d 279, 541 N.W.2d 115 (1995) (Case Nos. 94-2356 and 94-2357). Based on such statements, the attorney general's office certainly understands that the acceptable purpose of the sexual predator law is to provide treatment, not to incarcerate or punish.
Of course, what is most important to my analysis is the supreme court's reaction to these claims. Here, I read the Carpenter and Post decisions to accept the
Justice Geske appears to have also accepted the attorney general's analysis when she made the following statement:
We conclude that treatment is a bona fide goal of this statute and we presume the legislature will proceed in good faith and fund the treatment programs necessary for those committed under chapter 980.
Post, 197 Wis.2d at 308, 541 N.W.2d at 124. Although DHSS has had difficulty locating an appropriate facility for Castillo, and the attorney general's office now seems to be backing away from the claims it previously made in Carpenter and Post, this court has a duty to enforce the supreme court's conclusion that such treatment is "necessary" for persons subjected to commitment under ch. 980, STATS. See Post, 197 Wis.2d at 308, 541 N.W.2d at 124; see also § 980.06(2)(b).
Even though the supreme court accepted the attorney general's analysis about how the sexual predator law may be used without violating the
Nevertheless, the Carpenter and Post decisions reveal that the supreme court determined that the sexual predator law is a constitutional treatment statute, not an unconstitutional punitive statute, because the law accounts for the possibility that a sexual predator may not need to be secured away at the Wisconsin Resource Center to receive effective treatment. The supreme court read the law to place a duty on DHSS to ensure that sexual predators would receive the "least restrictive" placement possible. See § 980.06(2)(b), STATS. I am bound to that conclusion.
In fact, I draw a strong analogy between DHSS's duty to provide personalized treatment for accused sexual predators and its duty to provide persons set for conditional release from mental institutions with residential placement. See Rolo v. Goers, 174 Wis.2d 709, 717-18, 497 N.W.2d 724, 727 (1993). Although the Rolo court specifically addressed DHSS's duty under § 971.17, Stats., 1993-94, the plain wording of the sexual predator law shows that the legislature
I acknowledge that one would not ordinarily expect sexual predators to be the "benefactors" of legislative largesse. Moreover, I think it is quite possible that the legislature (and the attorney general's office when it argued Post and Carpenter) never imagined that a prosecutor would face a case in which community placement of the sexual predator was the appropriate disposition. However, the plain words of the statute and the supreme court's interpretation of those words show that the legislature accounted for this remote possibility. And the legislature had good reason to do so — it wanted the sexual predator law to survive a constitutional challenge. See Carpenter, 197 Wis.2d at 268-69, 268 n.10, 541 N.W.2d at 111-12, 111 (addressing claim that treatment and early release provisions of ch. 980, STATS., were only included to make the law constitutionally "palatable").
Understanding that DHSS's role is limited to providing the services to sexual predators that the trial court deems are appropriate, I am puzzled by the suggestion made before this court by the attorney general's office that the sexual predator law was written "backwards" because DHSS is not able to participate in the formation of the dispositional order. The attorney general's office suggests that earlier involvement by DHSS would prevent Castillo's situation from reoccurring because then the trial court would know what was available before it developed a disposition.
Turning now to Castillo's specific appellate claims, I conclude that the trial court made a legal error when it modified its order calling for community placement. Although a trial court certainly has the inherent power to modify or vacate its orders, see § 807.03, Stats., its decision to do so must be properly grounded on the law and is subject to appellate review. Here, the trial court grounded its decision to modify the order solely on DHSS's inability to locate an appropriate facility. The majority also recognizes this fact. Majority op. at 598-99. But because the sexual predator law requires that DHSS provide a sexual predator with community placement when a trial court finds that such placement is warranted, the trial court made an error in law when it determined that DHSS's difficulties were a legitimate reason to modify the dispositional order.
The State also cites evidence demonstrating that Castillo's psychological condition had deteriorated in the time that passed between the formation of the original order and the hearing on its motion to amend that order. I nonetheless read the trial court's opinion to have rejected this evidence and I do
Reference
- Full Case Name
- State of Wisconsin, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Heriberto Castillo, Jr., Defendant-Appellant
- Cited By
- 15 cases
- Status
- Published