People v. Chambless

Opinion

HUFFMAN, J.

David Mark Chambless appeals from a judgment ordering his two-year commitment to the custody of the State Department of Mental Health (DMH) following a jury finding that he is a sexually violent predator (SVP) within the meaning of the Sexually Violent Predators Act (the Act) *776 (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 6600 et seq.). 1 He contends the evidence is insufficient to establish he had previously committed a sexually violent offense against one of the victims, which is a prerequisite to application of the Act. Chambless also, claims the doctrines of equitable and judicial estoppel preclude a finding his prior convictions for Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a) as to both victims were committed by force or duress or constituted substantial sexual conduct, and that the trial court erred in refusing to admit evidence in his defense. 2

In the published portion of this opinion, we shall determine that there was sufficient evidence Chambless is an SVP because any touching of the genitals is sufficient to meet the required statutory definition under the Act of “substantial sexual conduct” by means of “masturbation of either the victim or the offender.” (§ 6600.1.) In the unpublished portions, we reject Chambless’s remaining contentions of error. Accordingly, we.affirm the judgment.

Background

Summary of the Act

Although our Supreme Court in Hubbart has provided a thorough review of the statutory scheme comprising the Act (see Hubbart v. Superior Court, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 1143-1149), for the convenience of the reader, we repeat pertinent provisions relevant to the issues in this case.

The Act, which is contained in section 6600 et. seq., provides for the continued confinement in the custody of the DMH of those persons identified as SVP’s before they have completed their prison or parole revocation *777 terms. It defines an SVP as “a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense against two or more victims for which he or she received a determinate sentence and who has a diagnosed mental disorder[ 3 ] that makes the person a danger to the health and safety of others in that it is likely that he or she will engage in sexually violent criminal behavior.” (§ 6600, subd. (a) .) “A ‘sexually violent offense’ refers to certain enumerated sex crimes ‘committed by force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim or another person.’[ 4 ] (§ 6600, subd. (b), citing Pen. Code, §§ 261, subd. (a)(2) [rape of nonspouse], 262, subd. (a)(1) [rape of spouse], 264.1 [rape in concert], 286 [sodomy], 288, subds. (a) & (b) [lewd acts upon children under age 14], 288a [oral copulation], 289, subd. (a) [sexual penetration by foreign object].)” (Hubbart v. Superior Court, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1145.) Further, “[i]f the victim of an underlying offense that is specified in subdivision (b) of Section 6600 is a child under the age of 14 and the offending act or acts involved substantial sexual conduct, the offense shall constitute a ‘sexually violent offense’ for purposes of Section 6600.” (§ 6600.1, subd. (a).)

If the Department of Corrections determines the inmate approaching sentence completion may be an SVP, it refers him or her for evaluation to see if the inmate falls under the Act. (§ 6601, subds. (a), (b), (c) & (d).) When the evaluation reveals the inmate has suffered the required qualifying prior convictions (§§ 6600, subds. (a) & (b), 6600.1) and two licensed psychologists and/or psychiatrists agree the inmate “has a diagnosed mental disorder such that he or she is likely to engage in acts of sexual violence without appropriate treatment and custody,” the DMH transmits a request for a petition for commitment under the Act to the county in which the alleged SVP was last convicted, with copies of the evaluation reports and -other supporting documents. (§ 6601, subds. (d), (h) & (i).) If a designated county’s attorney concurs in the request, a petition for commitment is filed in that county’s superior court. (§ 6601, subd. (i).)

Once filed, the superior court holds a hearing to determine whether there is “probable cause to believe that the individual named in the petition is *778 likely to engage in sexually violent predatory[ 5 ] criminal behavior upon his or her release.” 6 (§ 6602.) If such is found, the judge “shall” order that a trial be conducted “to determine whether the person is, by reason of a diagnosed mental disorder, a danger to the health and safety of others in that the person is likely to engage in acts of sexual violence upon his or her release . . . .” (§ 6602.)

The person subject to a trial under the Act is to remain in custody in a secure facility until the trial is completed. (§ 6602.) That person is entitled to trial by jury, the assistance of counsel, the right to retain experts or professional persons to perform further evaluations, and access to relevant medical and psychological reports. (§ 6603, subd. (a).) The trier of fact must determine beyond a reasonable doubt whether the person named in the petition is in fact an SVP. (§ 6604.) If the person is determined to be an SVP, he or she shall be committed to the custody of the DMH for two years “for appropriate treatment and confinement in a secure facility,” subject to annual review and extension of commitment if the diagnosed mental disorder and the consequent danger to the community persists. (§§ 6604, 6605.) “[T]he person shall not be kept in actual custody longer than two years unless a subsequent extended commitment is obtained from the court incident to the filing of a new petition for commitment under [the Act].” (§ 6604.)

Factual Summary

On December 1, 1989, Chambless pleaded guilty to five counts of committing a lewd act on a child under age 14. (Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (a).) For these sex crimes, which involved three incidents, including oral copulation and masturbation with more than one victim, Chambless was sentenced to prison for 16 years.

On November 10, 1997, a petition was filed by the District Attorney of San Diego County alleging that Chambless was an SVP under the Act. Based on the above convictions, his determinate sentence, and the reports of two psychiatric professionals who, after separate evaluations, concurred that Chambless fit the Act’s statutory qualifications, the People requested the superior court commence proceedings under the Act to determine whether Chambless should be committed as an SVP. After finding probable cause Chambless qualified under the Act as an SVP (§ 6602), the court set the matter for trial.

*779 At trial, the People presented the testimony of the two psychologists, Drs. Charles Jackson and Mark Schwartz, who had performed the earlier clinical evaluations, 7 and who opined Chambless currently was an SVP under the Act. Each found Chambless had diagnosable mental disorders that affected his emotional or volitional capacity and predisposed him to engage in sexually violent conduct. 8 Relying on Chambless’s probation report, his arrest record, rap sheet and medical records, in addition to the interview, each also found Chambless had previously committed two or more qualifying offenses under the Act. In the interview with Jackson, Chambless admitted he had fondled or touched the seven-year-old victim, Sandra B. (Sandy), but denied he had touched the other victim, nine-year-old Renee B. Chambless explained to Jackson he pled guilty to the five counts of molest, three with Sandy and two with Renee, because he was embarrassed and the plea agreement was a good deal since he had originally been charged with fifteen counts of sexual misconduct involving those victims.

The portion of the probation report entered into evidence at trial reflected that between June 1, 1989, and September 17, 1989, Chambless had molested Sandy when he babysat at her house while her mother went to the store. He pulled up Sandy’s shirt, fondled her chest, then pulled down her pants and “played with [her] private parts.” Chambless put his finger inside her and licked her vaginal area. He warned Sandy he would get very angry if she told anyone what happened.

Several months later, on September 17, 1989, Sandy and her sister Renee were at Chambless’s house where he sat on the couch between them while showing them a pornographic videotape. He touched Renee on the outside of her “pee,” underneath her panties, and also touched her “boobies.” Renee said Chambless then took her hand and tried to force her to touch his “pee, referring to his penis.” Renee said he was doing the same type of things to Sandy.

*780 The next day Sandy and Renee went to Chambless’s house to swim. Afterwards, Chambless showed them more “dirty movies,” took them into his bedroom, had them remove their swimsuits and dressed them in “teddies.” 9 Chambless went into the bathroom and came out wearing his shirt and women’s pink panties. Chambless made both girls “squeeze his penis.” He showed them handcuffs, saying he put them on his girlfriends and “then . . . does it to them.” He had the girls lie on the bed with him while he showed them “dirty magazines and naked pictures of his girlfriends.”

Renee got dressed and left after Chambless touched her breasts through the teddie and tried to make her touch his penis again. Chambless told her not to tell or he would hurt her. Because Chambless had shown her a gun on an earlier occasion, Renee believed he would hurt her with the gun if she told anyone about what had happened. After Renee left, Chambless put some “strawberry stuff’ in Sandy’s hand and had her apply it to his penis. She dressed and left when he tried to put some of the lotion on her vaginal area.

Chambless testified he only remembered molesting Sandy at his home one time after she and her sister Renee had been swimming there. 10 At that time, he dressed Sandy in a teddie while they watched a pornographic movie and mutually fondled each other. He explained his fondling of Sandy as touching her vagina over the lips, not inside, and just rubbing it a minute or so. He denied he put his finger inside her or licked her “down there.” Although he had also dressed Renee in a teddie, he denied he touched her or made her squeeze his penis. He also denied wearing pink female underwear in front of the girls. 11

Chambless agreed to accept the plea agreement offered him because he was ashamed and wanted to get it over with. He claimed he was strung out on methamphetamine and had used crack cocaine before the sexual acts with Sandy occurred. He acknowledged he had a drug problem, but was not sure whether he had a sexual problem. He had stopped using drugs in 1994 while he was in prison after a talk with his father. He disagreed with the expert’s diagnoses of pedophilia, transvestic fetishism and antisocial personality disorder. He related his background of hyperactivity treated by Ritalin, his *781 long drug use, Ms legal problems and Ms attempts at recovery. 12 Chambless believed that solving Ms drug problems would solve any of his behaviorial problems.

Dr. Theodore Donaldson, a clinical psychologist, testified on Chambless’s behalf. 13 Although he did not disagree with the People’s experts’ pedophilia diagnosis, after reviewing Chambless’s materials and interviewing Mm, he would not have made such diagnosis himself. Nor would he have made a diagnosis of transvestic fetishism. Donaldson believed that amphetamine abuse was the most accurate diagnosis in tMs case, that Chambless was not volitionally impaired when he committed the earlier crimes, that although he participated in kinky sexual behavior, he was not predisposed to act out with children, that Ms chance of recidivism within 10 years was between 37 percent and 48.6 percent, and that he did not qualify as an SVP.

Dr. Clark Smith, a medical doctor certified in psychiatry and the director of a drug and alcohol treatment hospital, also testified on Chambless’s behalf. Smith opined Chambless’s drug use played a major role in his earlier sex crimes. Because of Chambless’s prolonged Mstory of drug use, Smith felt it would be difficult to make an accurate diagnosis that he had an antisocial personality disorder. Smith believed that if Chambless were to stop using drugs, his risk for reoffending would be greatly reduced.

In rebuttal, a San Diego'police sergeant testified Chambless did not appear to be under the influence of drugs the day he was arrested for the sex offenses against the two young victims. In a subsequent search of Ms home, the police found numerous wadded-up catalog-type cutout photos of little girls between the ages of five and twelve years wearing various articles of clothes and underwear.

In closing argument, defense counsel conceded Chambless had committed substantial sexual conduct with Sandy as defined under the Act, but argued there was no evidence of such required substantial sexual conduct with Renee. The jury determined otherwise.

*782 Discussion

I

Sufficient Evidence of Masturbation

In order to establish Chambless was an SVP, the People needed to prove that (1) he had been convicted of two separate sexually violent offenses against two or more victims; (2) he had served a determinate term; (3) he had a diagnosable mental disorder; and (4) such disorder made him a danger to the health and safety of others in that it was likely he would engage in sexually violent conduct if released. (§ 6600, subd. (a).) On appeal, Chambless challenges only the sufficiency of the evidence to support the first element regarding one of the victims. Although he recognizes People v. Superior Court (Johannes) (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 558, 563, 569 [82 Cal.Rptr.2d 852] has recently determined section 6600.1 modifies section 6600, subdivision (b) so that the People need only show the acts committed against a victim under 14 years old were either such as to constitute “substantial sexual conduct” as defined by section 6600.1, subdivision (b) or involved the use of “force, violence, duress, menace or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury” (§ 6600, subd. (b)), Chambless contends there is insufficient evidence to support a finding under either statutory alternative that he committed sexually violent offenses against Renee. 14 In support of his assertion his conduct with Renee fails to qualify as “substantial sexual conduct,” Chambless notes there is no case law which addresses the extent of the touching required to meet the definition of such conduct by means of “masturbation of either the victim or the offender[,]” the only statutory conduct that could apply to him in this case. (§ 6600.1, subd. (b).) Without such “precedential guidelines that establish the degree or extent of touching required to constitute[] masturbation,” he claims his conduct is insufficient to satisfy an element of the Act and his commitment under the Act must be reversed.

Relying on the type of conduct that showed substantial sexual conduct in Johannes 15 and the reasoning of People v. Grim (1992) 9 Cal.App.4th 1240 [11 Cal.Rptr.2d 884] in interpreting the definition of substantial sexual conduct found in Penal Code section 1203.066, subdivision (b), which is the *783 same definition of substantial sexual conduct the Legislature proposed and adopted for section 6600.1, subdivision (b) (Sen. Com. on Crim. Proc., Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 2161 (1995-1996 Reg. Sess.) as amended Aug. 28, 1996), the People posit we should determine that “any contact between the hand of one person and the sexual organ of another [constitutes] ‘masturbation’ and thus [qualifies as] ‘substantial sexual conduct’ ” for purposes of the Act. Defined as such, the People assert the evidence in this case is sufficient to support a finding Chambless’s acts with Renee satisfied such definition, qualifying them as sexually violent offenses under the Act, and therefore Chambless’s commitment should be upheld.

As framed, the parties in essence ask us to interpret what constitutes masturbation for purposes of showing substantial sexual conduct under the Act and then to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to prove Chambless’s conduct satisfied such definition to support the predicate offense with Renee, the second victim. As we explain, we agree with the People that the definition of masturbation under the Act encompasses any touching or contact, however slight, of the genitals of either the victim or the offender, with the requisite intent, and that there is sufficient evidence to support the finding that such sexual conduct occurred between Chambless and Renee.

(3) To reach our conclusion, we first review the pertinent sections of the Act under well-established rules of statutory construction, which require us “to ascertain the intent of the lawmakers so as to effectuate the purpose of the [statute]. [Citations.]” (People v. Pieters (1991) 52 Cal.3d 894, 898-899 [276 Cal.Rptr. 918, 802 P.2d 420]; see also People v. Superior Court (Johannes), supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at p. 564.) In doing so, we examine the relevant language of the statute and “accord words their usual, ordinary, and common sense meaning based on the language the Legislature used and the evident purpose for which the statute was adopted.” (In re Rojas (1979) 23 Cal.3d 152, 155 [151 Cal.Rptr. 649, 588 P.2d 789].) In construing any particular provision of a statute, we do not insert words into it as such would “violate the cardinal rule that courts may not add provisions to a statute. [Citations.]” (Adoption of Kelsey S. (1992) 1 Cal.4th 816, 827 [4 Cal.Rptr.2d 615, 823 P.2d 1216].) Nor are we permitted to rewrite the statute to conform to an assumed intent that does not appear from its plain language. (Napa Valley Wine Train, Inc. v. Public Utilities Com. (1990) 50 Cal.3d 370, 381 [267 Cal.Rptr. 569, 787 P.2d 976].) We presume the Legislature in amending a law “is deemed to be aware of statutes and judicial decisions already in effect and to have enacted the new statute in light thereof.” (People v. *784 Hernandez (1988) 46 Cal.3d 194, 201 [249 Cal.Rptr. 850, 757 P.2d 1013], disapproved on another point in People v. King (1993) 5 Cal.4th 59, 78, fn. 5 [19 Cal.Rptr.2d 233, 851 P.2d 27].) “[W]e do not construe statutes [or their subdivisions] in isolation, but rather read every statute [and subdivision] ‘with reference to the entire scheme of law of which it is part so that the whole may be harmonized and retain effectiveness.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Pieters, supra, 52 Cal.3d at pp. 898-899.)

With these rules in mind, we turn to the pertinent language of the statute in question. As noted earlier, section 6600.1, subdivision (a) states: “If the victim of an underlying offense that is specified in subdivision (b) of Section 6600 is a child under the age of 14 and the offending act or acts involved substantial sexual conduct, the offense shall constitute a ‘sexually violent offense’ for purposes of Section 6600.” Subdivision (b) of section 6600.1 specifically provides that “ ‘[substantial sexual conduct’ means penetration of the vagina or rectum of either the victim or the offender by the penis of the other or by any foreign object, oral copulation, or masturbation of either the victim or the offender.” (Italics added.)

By its plain language, section 6600.1, subdivision (b) lists specified sex acts or offenses which involve substantial sexual conduct when committed upon a child under the age of 14 years. The act of masturbation is one of the specific offenses. Such, however, is not a codified offense contained in our Penal Code. Nor has our search of California law revealed a legal definition for the term “masturbation.” Rather, such word appears to have been used simply in its commonly understood meaning to describe the touching of one’s own or another’s private parts without quantitative requirement for purposes of defining conduct that was lewd or sexually motivated. 16 For example, in cases involving violations of Penal Code sections 314 and 647, subdivision (a), for the public display of a person’s private parts in a willful *785 and lewd manner and for disorderly conduct based on such conduct, the term “masturbation” has been used to describe the type of prohibited conduct which involves the touching of the genitals. (See In re Smith (1972) 7 Cal.3d 362, 364-366 [102 Cal.Rptr. 335, 497 P.2d 807]; People v. Swearington (1977) 71 Cal.App.3d 935, 943-945 [140 Cal.Rptr. 5].)

In contrast to these offenses, Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a), to which Chambless pled guilty with regard to his conduct with Renee, does not require the touching involved be that of a sexual organ. (People v. Raley (1992) 2 Cal.4th 870, 907 [8 Cal.Rptr.2d 678, 830 P.2d 712].) The crux of such crime is that the perpetrator have the specific intent to arouse sexual desire when any touching of any part of the body of an underage child is committed. (People v. Martinez (1995) 11 Cal.4th 434, 444 [45 Cal.Rptr.2d 905, 903 P.2d 1037].) As the Supreme Court explained in Martinez, “[Penal Code] section 288 was enacted to provide children with ‘special protection’ from sexual exploitation. [Citation.] The statute recognizes that children are ‘uniquely susceptible’ to such abuse as a result of their dependence upon adults, smaller size, and relative naiveté. [Citation.] The statute also assumes that young victims suffer profound harm whenever they are perceived and used as objects of sexual desire. [Citation.] It seems clear that such concerns cannot be satisfied unless the kinds of sexual misconduct that result in criminal liability are greatly expanded where children are concerned.” (People v. Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at pp. 443-444.)

When the Act was initially enacted, the Legislature included Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a) as a qualifying offense for finding a person an SVP if it were committed with force or violence. (§ 6600, subd. (b).) In 1996, the Legislature amended the Act to include any qualifying offense listed in the existing definition of an SVP regardless of whether it was violent when it involved a child under 14 years of age and “substantial sexual conduct.” (§ 6600.1, subd. (a) as amended by Stats. 1996, ch. 461, § 3; see People v. Superior Court (Johannes), supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at pp. 567-568.) The analysis of the Senate Committee on Criminal Procedure regarding Senate Bill No. 2161, 1995-1996 Regular Session, which added section 6600.1, stated the key issue was “Should the Definition of ‘Sexually Violent Predator’ Be Expanded to Include Specified Nonviolent Sexual Offenses on a Victim Under the Age of 14?” (Sen. Com. on Grim. Proc., Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 2161 (1995-1996 Reg. Sess.), p. 2.) We presume the Legislature in affirmatively answering this question and amending section 6600.1 to include the specific nonviolent act of masturbation in subdivision (b) as substantial sexual conduct was aware of the general use of that term to describe any act of genital touching. *786 Because the Legislature was also awáre of the “the long-standing rule that [Penal Code] section 288 is violated by ‘any touching’ of an underage child accomplished with the intent of arousing the sexual desires of either the perpetrator or the child” (People v. Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 452; People v. Hernandez, supra, 46 Cal.3d at p. 201), its inclusion of such offenses as predicate crimes under the Act while at the same time requiring they satisfy the definition of substantial sexual conduct evidences its intent to define conduct that goes beyond the mere touching of any part of the body of an underage child required for a conviction under Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a). We thus believe the sexual conduct described by the term “masturbation” in subdivision (b) of section 6600.1 refers to the specific type of touching required, that of the genitals of either the victim or the offender. Although this requirement is qualitatively more than that required under Penal Code section 288, subdivision (a), we do not read the definitional language of section 6600.1, subdivision (b), as Chambless does, to quantify in any manner the amount of the genital touching required to qualify sexual conduct as masturbation and thus substantial under the Act.

We find support for our conclusion in the case of People v. Grim, supra, 9 Cal.App.4th 1240. In Grim, the court considered the appropriateness of jury instructions concerning the sufficiency of the evidence to find substantial sexual conduct based on oral copulation as defined in Penal Code section 1203.066, subdivisions (a)(9) and (b). 17 (People v. Grim, supra, at pp. 1241-1243.) It found that the instruction telling the jury that “[a]ny contact, however slight, between the mouth of one person and the sexual organ of another person constitutes ‘oral copulation’ ” and that penetration of the mouth was not required was proper for finding “oral copulation” sufficient to constitute substantial sexual conduct under such section. (Ibid.) Because the Legislature took the definition of substantial sexual conduct for the Act (§ 6600.1, subd. (b)) directly from Penal Code section 1203.066, subdivision (b) (see Sen. Com. on Crim. Proc., Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 2161, (1995-1996 Reg. Sess.), p. 3), we presume it intended to use the terms in a like manner. (See People v. Weidert (1985) 39 Cal.3d 836, 845-846 [218 Cal.Rptr. 57, 705 P.2d 380].) Thus, the type or extent of oral copulation sufficient to show substantial sexual conduct under section 6600.1, subdivision (b) would necessarily be the same as that construed by the court in Grim.

Similarly, because section 6600.1, subdivision (b) provides that masturbation as well as oral copulation can mean substantial sexual conduct, by parity *787 of reasoning we believe the Legislature intended the extent of touching of the genitals required to meet the definition of masturbation would also be the same as in Grim. Hence, any contact, however slight of the sexual organ of the victim or the offender would be sufficient to qualify as masturbation and in turn as substantial sexual conduct under the Act.

This construction of the pertinent language of section 6600.1, subdivision (b) is consistent with the rules of statutory construction (see People v. Pieters, supra, 52 Cal.3d at pp. 898-899) and comports with the Legislature’s express intent to provide additional protection under the Act for underage children from those “predispose[d] ... to the commission of criminal sexual acts.” (§ 6600, subd. (c); see People v. Superior Court (Johannes), supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at pp. 567-568.)

When we review the sufficiency of the evidence in light of the above, applying the same standard used for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a criminal conviction (People v. Mercer (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 463, 466 [82 Cal.Rptr.2d 723]), we conclude there is more than sufficient evidence to support the finding Chambless’s conduct with Renee involved substantial sexual conduct to satisfy the requirement he previously committed a sexually violent offense against her. In 1989, Chambless pled guilty of two counts involving Renee; one related to touching her vagina on the outside, underneath her panties, and the other to forcing her to touch his penis. Regardless of the extent of the touching, each act as admitted by Chambless clearly falls under the definition of masturbation we have found contained in section 6600.1, subdivision (b). Contrary to his arguments regarding the conflicts in the evidence as to whether he actually forced Renee to touch his penis, such was a question the jury resolved against him. On appeal, we do not reweigh the evidence on such issue, but merely decide whether the record contains sufficient evidence to support the determination below. (People v. Mercer, supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at pp. 465-467.)

Having concluded there was sufficient evidence to support a finding Chambless committed a qualifying sexually violent offense against Renee under section 6600.1, we need not address his alternative contention there was insufficient evidence to support a finding his acts against Renee were accomplished by force, coercion or fear.

II, III *

*788 Disposition

The judgment is affirmed.

Kremer, P. J., and Nares, J., concurred.

Appellant’s petition for review by the Supreme Court was denied December 15, 1999.