Jury Determines Sexually Violent Predator Will Stay in Hospital

DATE: September 26, 2018

CASE: Robert Sims (Case #93F03509 & 04F05695)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Denise Halstead, Mental Health Litigation Unit

A jury found true a petition of civil commitment against Robert Sims as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP).

In 1993, Sims was convicted of rape by force or fear.  In that case, the 16-year-old victim was walking to school when Sims got her into his car, used a knife to threaten her and then raped her.  He received 3 years in state prison.  While incarcerated on a parole violation in 2004, Sims used force to sodomize his cellmate and was convicted of sodomy.  He received a 32-month sentence.  Sims violated parole in 2007 when he failed to register as a sex offender.  As a result, the District Attorney’s Office filed a petition to civilly commit Sims as an SVP.

While in the hospital, Sims assaulted a staff member in a sexual manner and displayed sexual behavior during an interview by an expert called to evaluate him.  Doctors from the Department of State Hospitals had the opinion that Sims represents a danger to the health and safety of others, in that he is likely to engage in sexually violent predatory criminal behavior.

Deputy District Attorney Denise Halstead states, “Sims has shown he will sexually offend in the community, in jail and in the state hospital. The jury determined that Sims continues to present a substantial danger and a serious risk to commit such crimes if free, and our community is safer with this finding.”

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