People v. Mercer

Opinion

WARD, J.

J.Defendant Trell James Mercer, Jr., appeals from his commitment to Atascadero State Hospital following a jury finding that he was a sexually violent predator within the meaning of the Sexually Violent Predators Act (SVP Act) (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 6600 et seq.) On appeal, defendant contends the evidence was insufficient to establish that he was a sexually violent predator likely to reoffend if released. He also contends the SVP Act denied him equal protection of the law because it treats offenders differently than they are treated under other civil commitment schemes. In a…