State v. Zanelli

589 N.W.2d 687, 223 Wis. 2d 545, 1998 Wisc. App. LEXIS 1399
CourtCourt of Appeals of Wisconsin
DecidedDecember 8, 1998
Docket98-0733
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 589 N.W.2d 687 (State v. Zanelli) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Zanelli, 589 N.W.2d 687, 223 Wis. 2d 545, 1998 Wisc. App. LEXIS 1399 (Wis. Ct. App. 1998).

Opinion

CANE, C.J.

Ronald Zanelli appeals from an order, following a jury trial, requiring his civil commitment as a sexually violent person under ch. 980, Stats. Zanelli raises four arguments^ in this, his second appeal. First, he claims that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to support a diagnosis of pedophilia because he did not meet the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders § 302.2 at 527-28 (4th ed. 1994) (DSM-IV). As a result, he asserts, his constitutional rights to notice and confrontation were violated. We reject these arguments because there was sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Zanelli suffers from a mental disorder. Second, Zanelli asserts that the trial court erred by failing to give a jury instruction defining "substantial probability." This second argument fails under State v. Zanelli, 212 Wis. 2d 358, 374-76, 569 N.W.2d 301, 308 (Ct. App. 1997) (Zanelli I), in which we held that the trial court is not required to define substantial probability.

Third, he argues that the trial court erroneously exercised its discretion when it released information *550 from the presentence investigation files under §972.15(4), Stats. We reject this argument because although the trial court did not set forth its reasoning when it weighed the factors we directed it to consider on remand, the record supports the trial court's determination. Finally, Zanelli contends that his statements to his probation officers and a police officer were inadmissible. Because his statements to his probation officers were not incriminating and because he was not "in custody" when he gave a statement to police, we reject his argument. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's commitment order.

I. Procedural Background

This is Zanelli's second appeal arising from the same fact situation. In 1992, Zanelli was convicted of two counts of sexual contact with a child contrary to § 948.02(2), Stats. Zanelli I, 212 Wis. 2d at 364, 569 N.W.2d at 304. The State filed a petition under ch. 980, STATS., alleging that Zanelli had a mental disorder, pedophilia, and was dangerous because his pedophilia created a substantial probability of future sexual violence. Id. Pursuant to § 980.04(2), STATS., the court held a probable cause hearing and found probable cause to believe Zanelli was sexually violent. Zanelli's first trial ended in a hung jury. Id. At his second trial, the jury found him sexually violent, and he was committed. Id. at 365, 569 N.W.2d at 304.

In Zanelli I, we reversed his judgment of commitment and ordered a new trial because we concluded that, under § 980.05(1m), Stats., comments by an expert and the State concerning Zanelli's refusal to be interviewed violated his right to remain silent under Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). Zanelli I, 212 Wis. 2d at 363, 369-70, 569 N.W.2d at 303, 306. At his *551 third trial, the one at issue here, a jury again determined that he was sexually violent, and the trial court ordered him committed. Zanelli then filed this second appeal challenging his commitment order. We will set forth additional facts as necessary.

II. Analysis

1. Sufficiency of the Evidence

Zanelli first argues that the evidence was insufficient as a matter of law to support a diagnosis of pedophilia, the alleged mental disorder under ch. 980, Stats., because the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he met all the diagnostic criteria for pedophilia in DSM-IV § 302.2. The State responds that it was the jury's province to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the experts who testified that Zanelli suffers from pedophilia. We agree with the State and conclude that a reasonable jury could conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Zanelli suffers from pedophilia, a mental disorder under § 980.01(2), Stats.

The standard of review for a challenge to a verdict based on the sufficiency of evidence in a ch. 980, STATS., case is as follows:

[W]e reverse only if the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict is so insufficient in probative value and force that it can be said as a matter of law that no reasonable trier of fact, acting reasonably, could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

State v. Kienitz, 221 Wis. 2d 275, 301, 585 N.W.2d 609, 619 (Ct. App. 1998), rev. granted. Although Zanelli characterizes this issue as one of sufficiency of the evi *552 dence, he neither sets forth the standard of review nor applies it to the facts. With this omission, Zanelli attempts to argue that the evidence was insufficient because due process requires an objective standard for adjudication, here DSM-IV. We will first address whether the evidence was insufficient under the proper standard of review and then address his due process argument.

At trial, the State had the burden of proving that Zanelli had a mental disorder and was dangerous to others because his pedophilia created a substantial probability of future sexual violence. See § 980.05(3)(a), Stats. A mental disorder "means a congenital or acquired condition affecting the emotional or volitional capacity that predisposes a person to engage in acts of sexual violence." Section 980.01(2), Stats. A sexually violent person is one "who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense . . . and who is dangerous because he or she suffers from a mental disorder that makes it substantially probable that the person will engage in acts of sexual violence." Section 980.01(7), Stats.

The State's psychologists, Drs. Susan Curran and Ronald Sindberg, both offered testimony that, to a reasonable degree of psychological certainty, Zanelli suffers from pedophilia, a mental disorder in DSM-IV. They further testified that pedophilia fits the ch. 980, Stats., definition of a mental disorder and that Zanelli indeed poses a risk of future sexual violence. To support their opinions, the experts addressed the following three DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for pedophilia:

A. Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a *553 prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger).
B. The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
C. The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.

DSM-IV § 302.2 at 528 (emphasis added).

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Bluebook (online)
589 N.W.2d 687, 223 Wis. 2d 545, 1998 Wisc. App. LEXIS 1399, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-zanelli-wisctapp-1998.