rockin'robin
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'Jimmy Ryce Act' Trial Ends With Offender Committed Indefinitely
(Update on a prior post)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A sex offender who completed a 13-year sentence for assaulting young boys and was asking to be released from civil custody instead is declared a sexual predator by a jury.
James Brown pleaded guilty in 1997 to assaulting an 18-month-old child and a teenage boy and was suspected of victimizing eight other children. Since his release from prison, the state has used the Jimmy Ryce Act -- named for a boy killed by a sex offender just out of prison -- to keep him in civil confinement for mandatory medical supervision.
Under that law, sex offenders like Brown who have served their time must be reviewed by several agencies, as well as state attorneys to determine whether or not they should be released, or whether they're still a threat to the public.
Prosecutors said Brown victimized eight young boys prior to his conviction in 1997. During a three-day trial, the state put five of those victims on the witness stand, along with two psychologists who testified that Brown is a pedophile, has refused treatment while in prison, and is very likely to offend again.
"Remember, we're just trying to get him the help he needs," prosecutor Alan Mizrahi told the jury. "We're just trying to give him the treatment he needs."
Brown took the stand in his own defense and denied all but the two crimes of which he was convicted.
A doctor testifying on behalf of Brown said that while he has a personality disorder, it does not fit the profile of a pedophile. A cousin of Brown's also testified that she would watch him upon his release to make sure he does not re-offend.
"This not 1996. This is not 1997," defense attorney Kelly Papa said in her closing argument. "We are in 2009, following a 13-year prison sentence by Mr. Brown. Following 13 years of reflection."
The jury's decision was announced mid-afternoon on Thursday.
The decision requires the hospital to send the judge a status review each year and he will decide when Brown ready to rejoin society.
Prosecutors said the average length of sexual-offender treatment is eight to 10 years.
Jury Finds Man 'Violent Sex Predator' - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
(Update on a prior post)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A sex offender who completed a 13-year sentence for assaulting young boys and was asking to be released from civil custody instead is declared a sexual predator by a jury.
James Brown pleaded guilty in 1997 to assaulting an 18-month-old child and a teenage boy and was suspected of victimizing eight other children. Since his release from prison, the state has used the Jimmy Ryce Act -- named for a boy killed by a sex offender just out of prison -- to keep him in civil confinement for mandatory medical supervision.
Under that law, sex offenders like Brown who have served their time must be reviewed by several agencies, as well as state attorneys to determine whether or not they should be released, or whether they're still a threat to the public.
Prosecutors said Brown victimized eight young boys prior to his conviction in 1997. During a three-day trial, the state put five of those victims on the witness stand, along with two psychologists who testified that Brown is a pedophile, has refused treatment while in prison, and is very likely to offend again.
"Remember, we're just trying to get him the help he needs," prosecutor Alan Mizrahi told the jury. "We're just trying to give him the treatment he needs."
Brown took the stand in his own defense and denied all but the two crimes of which he was convicted.
A doctor testifying on behalf of Brown said that while he has a personality disorder, it does not fit the profile of a pedophile. A cousin of Brown's also testified that she would watch him upon his release to make sure he does not re-offend.
"This not 1996. This is not 1997," defense attorney Kelly Papa said in her closing argument. "We are in 2009, following a 13-year prison sentence by Mr. Brown. Following 13 years of reflection."
The jury's decision was announced mid-afternoon on Thursday.
The decision requires the hospital to send the judge a status review each year and he will decide when Brown ready to rejoin society.
Prosecutors said the average length of sexual-offender treatment is eight to 10 years.
Jury Finds Man 'Violent Sex Predator' - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville