Goddard v. State

KENNETH W. SHRUM, Judge.

This is a “Sexually Violent Predator” commitment case, authorized via sections 632.480 to 632.513 (the “Act”). 1 In accord with a jury verdict, Michael Goddard (“Appellant”) was adjudged to be a sexually violent predator and was ordered confined by the Department of Mental Health (“DMH”).

On appeal, Appellant argues that the trial court made a prejudicially erroneous evidentiary ruling by allowing “testimony regarding risk prediction based on the results of actuarial instruments.” He insists that admission of this evidence violated section 490.065, the statute governing…