Jewell v. State

Steven Wayne Jewell appeals from the circuit court’s final order dismissing his petition for writ of habeas corpus. Because the circuit court failed to correctly apply the relevant case law, we reverse.

On January 26, 2011, Jewell was civilly committed as a sexually violent predator pursuant to the Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators Act, commonly known as the “Jimmy Ryce Act.” He subsequently filed a habeas petition in this Court on October 11, 2012, seeking leave to pursue a belated appeal from his civil commitment. He asserted in the petition that, within thirty days of the…