State v. Olson

No. 14533
IN THE: SUPREME C O W OF THE STA'IE OF I'43NTANA
1979

STATE OF PDNTANA,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
-VS-

RAYI'mJD L OLSON,
.
Deferdant and Appellant.

Appeal f m ; District Court of the Nineteenth Judicial District,
Honorable R o b e r t M Holter, Judge presiding.
.
Counsel of Record:
For Appellant:
R T Randono, Great Falls, bbntana
. .

For Respondent:
Hon. Mike Greely, Attorney General, Helena, mntana
Allen Chronister argued, Assistant Attorney General, Helena,
Mxkana
William A Douglas, County Attorney, Libby, mntana
.

Submitted: March 26, 1979
Decided: 1
3
- t *

Filed:
Mr. J u s t i c e J o h n C. Sheehy d e l i v e r e d t h e O p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t .

T h i s a p p e a l i s t a k e n from a judgment d e n y i n g O l s o n ' s

p e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e from t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l i n Warm S p r i n g s .

F i n d i n g s o f f a c t , c o n c l u s i o n s of law and judgment w e r e

e n t e r e d on August 1 4 , 1978, i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t o f L i n c o l n

County by t h e H o n o r a b l e R o b e r t M. Holter.

I n 1969 Olson w a s c h a r g e d w i t h two c o u n t s o f r a p e . He

g a v e n o t i c e o f i n t e n t t o r e l y on t h e d e f e n s e o f i n s a n i t y .

The c a s e was s u b m i t t e d t o t h e j u r y and a g u i l t y v e r d i c t was

returned. On a p p e a l t h e judgments w e r e r e v e r s e d and a new

t r i a l was o r d e r e d . S t a t e v . Olson ( 1 9 7 1 ) , 156 Mont. 339,

480 P.2d 822.

B e f o r e t h e s e c o n d t r i a l t h e judge f o u n d Olson " n o t

g u i l t y " by r e a s o n o f i n s a n i t y and o r d e r e d him committed t o

t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l on March 1 8 , 1971. The committment o r d e r

r e f e r r e d t o t h e d e p o s i t i o n s and t e s t i m o n y o f D r s . I4iguel F.

G r a c i a and R o b e r t A. W e t z l e r , q u a l i f i e d p s y c h i a t r i s t s who

had examined Olson.

I n 1972 O l s o n walked away from t h e Warm S p r i n g s f a c i l -

i t y and went t o G r e a t F a l l s . From 1972 u n t i l 1977 Olson

l i v e d i n G r e a t F a l l s w i t h h i s w i f e and f a m i l y . H e obtained

a j o b , had a t e l e p h o n e d i r e c t o r y l i s t i n g , and a d r i v e r ' s

l i c e n s e a l l u n d e r h i s own name. H e joined both a l o c a l

u n i o n and t h e l o c a l c h a p t e r o f t h e Moose Lodge, a g a i n u s i n g

his own name.

On F e b r u a r y 1 7 , 1 9 7 7 , a n o r d e r was e n t e r e d f o r t h e

i s s u a n c e o f a bench w a r r a n t d i r e c t i n g :

" I T I S HEREBY ORDERED:

" T h a t Bench W a r r a n t i s s u e f o r t h e a r r e s t of t h e
c a p t i o n e d D e f e n d a n t , Raymond LeRoy O l s o n , and t h a t
he forthwith be returned t o t h i s Court - purposes for
 - d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r h e s h o u l d b e r e l e a s e d from
of
c u s t o d y - -r m s p r i n g s S t a t e ~ o s z t a w i t h o u t B a i l . "
of W a l
(Emphasis added. )

O l s o n ' s p e r i o d o f r e s i d e n c e i n Great F a l l s was n o t

completely without i n c i d e n t . I n September o r O c t o b e r of

1976 Olson u n e x p e c t e d l y a p p e a r e d i n t h e bedroom o f o n e K a r l a

White a t a b o u t 2:00 o r 3:00 a.m. w h i l e s h e was s l e e p i n g .

Olson l e f t when t o l d t o , a l t h o u g h , a s t h e S t a t e c o n t e n d s ,

t h e p r e s e n c e of W h i t e ' s male companion may have h a s t e n e d h i s

retreat.

A y e a r l a t e r on September 1, 1977, Olson a s s a u l t e d t h e

same woman i n t h e e a r l y morning h o u r s . In this attack,

Olson g r a b b e d W h i t e , knocked h e r down, and shoved h e r f a c e

i n t o t h e c o n c r e t e , t h r e a t e n i n g t o b r e a k h e r neck. Olson

a p p a r e n t l y d i d t r y t o s n a p W h i t e ' s neck b e f o r e d r a g g i n g h e r

off i n t o a vacant f i e l d . Although t h e r e was no s e x u a l

a s s a u l t , O l s o n ' s c o n t i n u i n g p h y s i c a l a s s a u l t was i n t e r r u p t e d

o n l y by t h e a r r i v a l o f t h e p o l i c e . Olson claims h e was

u p s e t o v e r W h i t e ' s t r e a t m e n t of h e r ex-husband, 3lson's

friend. T h i s i n c i d e n t l e d t o O l s o n ' s a r r e s t and b e i n g

c h a r g e d w i t h misdemeanor a s s a u l t and u n l a w f u l r e s t r a i n t .

The c h a r g e s w e r e u l t i m a t e l y d i s m i s s e d .

A l t h o u g h t h e o r d e r o f F e b r u a r y 1 7 , 1977, d i r e c t e d t h a t

t h e r e b e a h e a r i n g t o d e t e r m i n e O l s o n ' s s t a t u s and a l t h o u g h

h e was t a k e n t o K a l i s p e l l and h e l d i n j a i l f o r a t l e a s t a

week, t h e r e was no h e a r i n g and h e was r e t u r n e d summarily t o

the S t a t e Hospital.

On December 27, 1977, Olson p e t i t i o n e d f o r r e l e a s e . He

was s u b s e q u e n t l y examined by D r . Hamilton C . Pierce and D r .
George G e l e r n t e r , b o t h q u a l i f i e d p s y c h i a t r i s t s , whose re-

p o r t s w e r e i n t r o d u c e d a s e x h i b i t s a t t h e h e a r i n g on August

3, 1978. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e e v a l u a t i o n s , Olson and h i s
w i f e t e s t i f i e d and 35 l e t t e r s of p e r s o n a l r e f e r e n c e from

O l s o n ' s s u p e r v i s o r s , co-workers, and f r i e n d s were i n t r o d u c e d

a s exhibits without objection. Finally, an interim s o c i a l

h i s t o r y and a m e n t a l s t a t u s e x a m i n a t i o n r e p o r t and e v a l u a -

t i o n p r e p a r e d d u r i n g O l s o n ' s c o n f i n e m e n t a t Warm S p r i n g s i n
l a t e 1977 w e r e s u b m i t t e d on O l s o n ' s b e h a l f . The s u b s t a n c e

o f t h e s e r e p o r t s a s w e l l as o f t h e e v a l u a t i o n s by t h e two

p r i v a t e p s y c h i a t r i s t s was t h a t Olson s u f f e r e d no m e n t a l

i l l n e s s and s h o u l d b e r e l e a s e d .

The S t a t e , i n o p p o s i n g t h e 2 e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e , i n t r o -
duced p a r t s o f t h e p s y c h i a t r i c e v i d e n c e from t h e 1970 r a p e

t r i a l , s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e testimony of D r . Wetzler, along with

t e s t i m o n y from K a r l a W h i t e , t h e woman O l s o n a l l e g e d l y a t -

t a c k e d i n 1977.

The D i s t r i c t C o u r t d e n i e d O l s o n ' s p e t i t i o n c i t i n g i n

i t s f i n d i n g s t h e t e s t i m o n y o f D r . W e t z l e r i n 1970 t h a t Olson

had a " g r a v e d e f e c t , a g r a v e i l l n e s s , " t h a t t h e two i n c i -

d e n t s i n v o l v i n g K a r l a White were s i m i l a r t o t h e o r i g i n a l

r a p e s , and t h a t O l s o n had r e c e i v e d no p s y c h i a t r i c t r e a t m e n t

s i n c e 1972. The f i n a l f i n d i n g and c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e D i s -

t r i c t C o u r t were:

"5. T h a t t h i s D e f e n d a n t i s now s u f f e r i n g from a
m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t which r e n d e r s him u n a b l e
t o c o n t r o l h i m s e l f a t t i m e s a n d which r e s u l t s i n
h i s b e i n g a d a n g e r t o t h e p e r s o n of o t h e r s .

" [ C o n c l u s i o n s o f Law] T h a t t h e P e t i t i o n of t h e
D e f e n d a n t f o r r e l e a s e from t h e Montana S t a t e Nos-
p i t a 1 s h o u l d be d e n i e d by r e a s o n of t h e f a c t t h a t
t h i s Defendant remains a danger t o t h e person of
others."
O l s o n w a s o r d e r e d r e t u r n e d t o W a r m S p r i n g s S t a t e Hos-

pital. From t h e d e n i a l o f h i s p e t i t i o n , O l s o n a p p e a l s .

Olson b r o a d l y a s s e r t s t h a t t h e i s s u e f o r r e v i e w i s

whether t h e D i s t r i c t Court e r r e d i n denying h i s p e t i t i o n .
The S t a t e b r e a k s t h i s i s s u e down and a d d r e s s e s t h e p o i n t s

Olson pursues:

1. Whether t h e t r a n s c r i p t o f D r . W e t z l e r ' s t e s t i m o n y

from t h e p r i o r t r i a l was a d m i s s i b l e .

2. Whether t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t c o u l d r e l y on t h e t e s t i -

mony of t h e woman Olson a l l e g e d l y a t t a c k e d .

3. Whether t h e e v i d e n c e was s u f f i c i e n t t o s u p p o r t t h e

D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s judgment.

By t h i s a p p e a l from t h e d e n i a l o f h i s p e t i t i o n f o r

release, O l s o n s p e c i f i c a l l y c h a l l e n g e s t h e u s e o f t h e t e s t i -

mony of two w i t n e s s e s by t h e lower c o u r t : (1) t h e t r a n -

s c r i b e d t e s t i m o n y o f D r . W e t z l e r a s g i v e n i n O l s o n ' s 1970

r a p e t r i a l ; and ( 2 ) t h e t e s t i m o n y o f K a r l a White a s t o two

i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g h e r and Olson. W e w i l l consider t h e

testimony of each s e p a r a t e l y .

Testimony o f -. W e t z l e r .
- Dr This testimony a s presented

t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t by t h e S t a t e c o n s i s t e d e x c l u s i v e l y o f

t h e t r a n s c r i p t of Wetzler's testimony a t Olson's t r i a l i n

1970. T h i s t e s t i m o n y was b a s e d on W e t z l e r ' s two-hour exam-

i n a t i o n o f O l s o n i n J a n u a r y 1970. Wetzler has neither

examined Olson s i n c e 1970, f i l e d any s o r t o f u p d a t e d e v a l u -

a t i o n , n o r d i d h e a p p e a r a t t h e h e a r i n g on O l s o n ' s p e t i t i o n .

I n s h o r t , t h i s t r a n s c r i b e d testimony r e l a t e s t o Olson's

m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a s o f J a n u a r y 1970.

O l s o n p e t i t i o n e d f o r r e l e a s e u n d e r s e c t i o n 95-508,

R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n s 46-14-301 t h r o u g h -304 MCA, which

e s t a b l i s h e s t h e p r o c e d u r e f o r commitment t o and r e l e a s e from

t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l a t Warm S p r i n g s f o l l o w i n g a c q u i t t a l on
t h e ground o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . The p r o v i s i o n s o f

t h a t s e c t i o n c l e a r l y c a l l f o r a determination of t h e mental

c o n d i t i o n of a committed p e r s o n a s o f t h e t i m e o f t h e p e t i -
t i o n f o r release. E.g., s e c t i o n 95-508(1) (hearing " t o

determine h i s p r e s e n t mental c o n d i t i o n " ) , (2) (requiring the

a p p o i n t m e n t o f two p s y c h i a t r i s t s t o examine t h e p e r s o n a f t e r

t h e f i l i n g of a p e t i t i o n ) , now s e c t i o n s 46-14-301(2) a n d 46-

1 4 - 3 0 2 ( 2 ) MCA. Accord, Rouse v . Cameron ( D . C . Cir. 1966),

373 F.2d 451, 461 n. 43; S t a t e v . C u v e l i e r ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 1 7 5 Conn.

1 0 0 , 394 A.2d 1 8 5 , 189; S t a t e v . F i e l d s ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 77 N . J . 282,

390 A.2d 574, 585; P e o p l e v . G i l e s (Colo. 1 9 7 6 ) , 557 P.2d

408, 411-12.

While p e r h a p s t h i s C o u r t h a s n o t d e c i d e d t h e e x a c t

q u e s t i o n p r e s e n t e d by O l s o n , we h a v e d e c i d e d t h a t e v i d e n c e

o f m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a s o f s e v e r a l y e a r s b e f o r e t h e comvis-

s i o n o f a crime, S t a t e v . Nee1 ( 1 9 7 8 ) , Mon t . , 580

P.2d 456, 459, 35 St.Rep. 833, 837, o r a s o f s e v e r a l y e a r s

a f t e r t h e commission o f a crime, S t a t e e x r e l . Main v .

D i s t r i c t C o u r t ( 1 9 7 4 ) , 164 Mont. 501, 508-09, 525 P.2d 28,

32, i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e o f m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e

t i m e o f t h e commission o f a c r i m e . The r e v e r s e i s a l s o

t r u e : e v i d e n c e o f m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e t i m e o f t h e com-

m i s s i o n o f a c r i m e i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e of m e n t a l

c o n d i t i o n some e i g h t y e a r s l a t e r upon p e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e .

Powell v. F l o r i d a ( 5 t h C i r . 1 9 7 8 ) , 579 F.2d 324, 330.

W e a r e r e l u c t a n t , however, t o hold t h a t testimony of

m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e commission of a crime i s a l w a y s

i n a d m i s s i b l e on t h e q u e s t i o n of m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t some

p o i n t l a t e r upon p e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e . F o r example, u n d e r

s e c t i o n 9 5 - 5 0 8 ( 1 ) , now s e c t i o n 46-14-301(2) MCA, a person

committed t o Warm S p r i n g s S t a t e H o s p i t a l f o l l o w i n g a c q u i t t a l
i s e n t i t l e d t o a h e a r i n g w i t h i n 50 d a y s of c o n f i n e m e n t t o

determine h i s p r e s e n t mental condition. I n s u c h cases, t h e

e a r l i e r t e s t i m o n y may b e h e l p f u l t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i n
e v a l u a t i n g t h e a c q u i t t e e ' s mental h e a l t h . P e o p l e v . Turner

( 1 9 7 8 ) , 62 I l l . A p p . 3 d 782, 379 N.E.2d 377, 379-80. A s the

i n t e r v a l between t h e o r i g i n a l e v a l u a t i o n and t h e s u b s e q u e n t

p e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e l e n g t h e n s , however, t h i s e a r l i e r t e s t i -

mony l o s e s i t s p r o b a t i v e v a l u e . I n t h i s c a s e , where e i g h t

y e a r s e l a p s e d between t h e o r i g i n a l e v a l u a t i o n and t h e sub-

s e q u e n t p e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e , w i t h no i n t e r v e n i n g examina-

t i o n by t h e w i t n e s s , t h e p r o b a t i v e v a l u e of t h e e a r l i e r

t e s t i m o n y of t h e w i t n e s s i n judging t h e p r e s e n t m e n t a l

c o n d i t i o n of Olson i s q u e s t i o n a b l e .

Our c o n c l u s i o n i s s t r e n g t h e n e d by t h e o t h e r t e s t i m o n y

and e v i d e n c e i n t h e r e c o r d b e f o r e t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t .

I n c l u d e d i n t h i s e v i d e n c e w e r e e v a l u a t i o n s o f Olson by o t h e r

p s y c h i a t r i s t s o r psychologists. These e v a l u a t i o n s , c o n t r a r y

t o t h a t of D r . W e t z l e r , were based on e x a m i n a t i o n s o f Olson

i n l a t e 1977 and e a r l y 1978 a f t e r h i s r e t u r n t o Warn S p r i n g s .

The l a t e r e v a l u a t i o n s a r e unanimous i n t h e i r f i n d i n g s t h a t

Olson no l o n g e r s u f f e r s from any m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t

and t h a t h e s h o u l d b e r e l e a s e d from c o n f i n e m e n t a t Warm

Springs.

Thus, i n t h e words of D r . Hamilton P i e r c e :

" I n summary, I s e e no e v i d e n c e of m e n t a l i l l n e s s i n
t h i s p a t i e n t and I d o u b t i f h e e v e r h a s had m e n t a l
i l l n e s s t o t h e degree t h a t could be considered a
c a u s e of h i s a n t i s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s . H e i s an i m -
p u l s i v e p e r s o n and h e h a s r e l a t i v e l y weak c o n t r o l s
which a r e weakened more by h i s tendency t o d r i n k .
I do n o t s e e him a s m e n t a l l y ill now o r i n t h e p a s t . "

Dr. George G e l e r n t e r , a l s o of G r e a t F a l l s , concluded:

"At t h i s p o i n t , I f i n d no e v i d e n c e of s e r i o u s emo-
tional illness. Incarceration a t t h e S t a t e Hospital
would seem t o s e r v e no p u r p o s e o t h e r t h a n c u s t o -
d i a l , s i n c e t h e r e i s no ' t r e a t m e n t ' f a c i l i t y t h e r e
t h a t would b e m e a n i n g f u l t o him. I f t h e l e g a l as-
p e c t s of h i s c h a r g e s r e q u i r e d i n c a r c e r a t i o n , i t
would s e e m more a p p r o p r i a t e a t t h e S t a t e P r i s o n i n
D e e r Lodge i f t h e p u r p o s e i s p u r e l y i n c a r c e r a t i o n . "
 F i n a l l y , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t had b e f o r e i t a p a c k e t o f

e v a l u a t i o n s p r e p a r e d by t h e p s y c h i a t r i c s t a f f a t Warm

Springs. I n t h e s e e v a l u a t i o n s , t h e examining s o c i a l w o r k e r ,

" q u e s t i o n [ e d ] t h e a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s of [Olson's] c u r r e n t

incarceration." The d i s c h a r g e summary s i g n e d by D r . Harry

Xanthopoulos and o t h e r s s t a t e s :

" S i g n i f i c a n t Findings:

" I t was t h e f i n d i n g s of t h e F o r e n s i c Region team
t h a t he was s u f f e r i n g from no m e n t a l d i s o r d e r and
t h a t h e was n o t a p p r o p r i a t e l y i n t h e h o s p i t a l . . ."
The f i n a l d i a g n o s i s o f Olson by t h e s t a f f a t t h e S t a t e

H o s p i t a l s t a t e s t h a t h e h a s no m e n t a l d i s o r d e r .

Comparison of t h e p s y c h i a t r i c t e s t i m o n y p r e s e n t e d by

t h e S t a t e w i t h t h a t p r e s e n t e d by Olson l e a v e s no p o s s i b l e

c o n c l u s i o n o t h e r t h a n t h a t Olson h a s e s t a b l i s h e d by a p r e -

ponderance of t h e p s y c h i a t r i c e v i d e n c e t h a t h e i s e n t i t l e d

t o be r e l e a s e d . S e c t i o n 9 5 - 5 0 8 ( 3 ) , R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n

46-14-302(4) MCA. W t h e r e f o r e p r o c e e d t o a n e x a m i n a t i o n of
e

t h e t e s t i m o n y o f K a r l a White.

-
Testimony of K a r l a White. U n l i k e t h e t e s t i m o n y of D r .

W e t z l e r , t h e t e s t i m o n y of K a r l a White i s n o t s u b j e c t t o

a t t a c k on t h e b a s i s t h a t i t i s n o t t i m e l y o r r e l e v a n t . Her

t e s t i m o n y c o n c e r n s i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g Olson which o c c u r r e d

w i t h i n a b o u t f i f t e e n months of h i s f i l i n g a p e t i t i o n f o r

release. One o f t h e s e i n c i d e n t s r e s u l t e d i n O l s o n ' s a r r e s t

and r e t u r n t o Warm S p r i n g s . The t e s t i m o n y i s undoubtedly

damaging t o O l s o n ' s c a s e . S e e , P e o p l e v . G i l e s (Colo.

1 9 7 6 ) , 557 P.2d 408, 4 1 2 . Given o u r c o n c l u s i o n a s t o t h e

c u r r e n t v a l u e of D r . W e t z l e r ' s 1970 t e s t i m o n y , however, t h e

q u e s t i o n becomes whether W h i t e ' s t e s t i m o n y , s t a n d i n g a l o n e ,

j u s t i f i e s O l s o n ' s c o n t i n u e d confinement a t Warm S p r i n g s . We

conclude t h a t it does not.
 White, a s n o t e d e a r l i e r , t e s t i f i e d c o n c e r n i n g two
s e p a r a t e i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g Olson which o c c u r r e d a y e a r

apart. I n t h e f i r s t i n c i d e n t , Olson a p p e a r e d u n i n v i t e d i n

W h i t e ' s bedroom i n t h e e a r l y morning. H e l a t e r explained he

had been t r y i n g t o r o u s e White f o r a b o u t a n hour and when h e

f a i l e d , h e c a l l e d h e r mother who s u p p o s e d l y asked him t o
check on h e r . Olson d i d l e a v e when t o l d t o by White. The

c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h i s i n c i d e n t and t h e manner of O l s o n ' s be-

havior possesses only a s u p e r f i c i a l s i m i l a r i t y t o h i s

s e x u a l a t t a c k s i n 1970.

The second i n c i d e n t t o which White t e s t i f i e d was t h e

t i m e t h a t Olson suddenly a p p e a r e d a s White was g e t t i n g o u t

o f h e r c a r , knocked h e r down, and pushed h e r f a c e i n t o t h e

c o n c r e t e b e f o r e d r a g g i n g h e r t o a n e a r b y v a c a n t f i e l d where

he continued t o p r e s s her f a c e i n t o t h e g r a s s . White's

r e c o u n t of what Olson s a i d t o h e r d u r i n g t h i s a t t a c k i s
illuminating:

" Q . What happened n e x t ? A . W e more o r less j u s t
were t a l k i n g . H e a s k e d m e i f I knew why h e w a s
d o i n g t h i s t o m e , and i f I wanted t o know, and I
s a i d , 'Yes, I d o . ' - -i-he was d o i n g - -r
He s a d - it fo
-
my s i s t e r .

" Q . What happened n e x t ? A . - -l-me t h a t i t
He t o d - -
was-o t m-he was a f t e r anymore; t h a t it was m l
- n - e -
husband, and t h a t I s h o u l d g e t up and r u n a l o n g
towards t h e r o a d and n o t t u r n around and j u s t
run. " (Emphasis added. )

Again, t h e r e was no s e x u a l a s s a u l t o r c o n d u c t o f any

kind. This incident a l s o i s very d i s s i m i l a r t o t h e e a r l i e r
s e x u a l a t t a c k s and a p p a r e n t l y had f o r i t s m o t i v e n o t s e x u a l
a s s a u l t b u t revenge f o r a f r i e n d a p p a r e n t l y wronged. Cf.

S t a t e v . Hesse ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 117 N.H. 329, 373 A.2d 345, 347

( d e f e n d a n t , a c q u i t t e d of a s s a u l t on a b l a c k man b e c a u s e o f

i n s a n i t y , a s s a u l t e d a b l a c k man a f t e r e s c a p e from h o s p i t a l ) .
Olson w a s c h a r g e d o n l y w i t h s i m p l e a s s a u l t and u n l a w f u l

r e s t r a i n t , b o t h misdemeanors. Both c h a r g e s were e v e n t u a l l y

dismissed.

White's testimony a s w e l l a s Olson's s p e c i a l s t a t u s a t

t h e t i m e of t h e a t t a c k l e a d s u s t o r e v i e w t h e e n t i r e s t a t u -

t o r y scheme f o r t h e commitment and r e l e a s e of p e r s o n s ac-

q u i t t e d of c r i m e b e c a u s e of m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t .

O l s o n ' s s p e c i a l s t a t u s of which we speak i s t h a t of an

i n s a n i t y a c q u i t t e e on - f a c t o s e l f - i m p o s e d " p r o b a t i o n " from
de

Warm S p r i n g s f o r a p e r i o d o f o v e r f i v e y e a r s from t h e t i m e

he walked away from t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l i n August 1972, u n t i l

h i s a r r e s t on September 1, 1977.

Our r e v i e w i n i t i a l l y r e v e a l s a c o n f l i c t i n t h e s e s t a t -

u t e s a s t o whether c r i m i n a l o r a n t i s o c i a l b e h a v i o r a l o n e

w a r r a n t s confinement a t Warm S p r i n g s . The Revised Commis-

s i o n Comment t o s e c t i o n 95-508, R.C.M. 1947, governing

release states:

". .. I t seems p r e f e r a b l e t o make d a n g e r o u s n e s s
t h e c r i t e r i o n f o r continued custody r a t h e r than t o
p r o v i d e t h a t t h e committed p e r s o n may b e d i s c h a r g e d
o r r e l e a s e d when r e s t o r e d t o s a n i t y a s d e f i n e d by
t h e m e n t a l h y g i e n e laws. Although h i s m e n t a l d i s -
e a s e may have g r e a t l y improved, s u c h a p e r s o n may
s t i l l be dangerous b e c a u s e o f f a c t o r s i n h i s p e r -
s o n a l i t y and background o t h e r t h a n m e n t a l d i s e a s e .
A l s o , such a s t a n d a r d p r o v i d e s a p o s s i b l e means
f o r t h e c o n t r o l of t h e o c c a s i o n a l d e f e n d a n t who
s u c c e s s f u l l y feiqned mental d i s e a s e t o g a i n an
a c q u i t t a l . - The p r e s c r i b e d p r o c e d u r e p r o t e c t s
-- p u b l i c - - d e f e n d a n t by p r o v i d i n g
both t h e and t h e
f o r-n i n d e p e n d e n t p s y c h i a t r i c e x a m i n a t i o n of
- a
t h e d e f e n d a n t b e f o r e a c t i o n on -
- -pcoapan
ii
lt -
f o r r e l e a s e , and t h e n e i t h e r f o r summary f a v o r -
a b l e a c t i o n on t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o r a f u l l h e a r -
ing." (Emphasis added. )
T h i s comment, a s w e l l as t h e l a n g u a g e of s e c t i o n 95-508
i t s e l f , w o u l d seem t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e m e r e f a c t o f O l s o n ' s
c r i m i n a l a s s a u l t on White i s r e a s o n enough t o w a r r a n t h i s

c o n t i n u e d confinement. The d e f i n i t i o n of m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r
d e f e c t e x c l u d i n g r e s p o n s i b i l i t y c o n t a i n e d i n s e c t i o n 95-501,

R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n 46-14-101(2) MCA, indicates other-

wise:

" ( 2 ) A s used i n t h i s c h a p t e r , t h e t e r m 'mental
d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t ' does n o t include an abnormality
m a n i f e s t e d o n l y by r e p e a t e d c r i m i n a l o r o t h e r -
w i s e a n t i s o c i a l conduct."
The c o n f l i c t between t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s i s more a p p a r e n t

t h a n r e a l , however. Obviously, t h e i n t e n t of t h e s e s t a t u t e s

i s t o d e a l w i t h a n e x c e p t i o n a l c l a s s o f p e o p l e who, b e c a u s e

of t h e i r mental c o n d i t i o n , a r e n o t t o be h e l d c r i m i n a l l y

l i a b l e f o r a c t s which o t h e r w i s e would b e c o n s i d e r e d c r i m i n a l .

S t a t e v . T a y l o r ( 1 9 7 1 ) , 158 Mont. 323, 331, 491 P.2d 877,

881. The c r u c i a l c r i t e r i o n f o r i n c l u s i o n i n t h i s c l a s s i s

p o s s e s s i o n of a m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t e x c l u d i n g r e s p o n s i -

bility. S e c t i o n 95-501, R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n 46-14-101

MCA; P o w e l l v . F l o r i d a ( 5 t h C i r . 1 9 7 8 ) , 579 F.2d 324, 332.

C l e a r l y , u n d e r t h i s s t a t u t e , t h e m e r e commission of a c r i m i -

n a l a c t does n o t p l a c e t h e a c t o r i n t h i s e x c e p t i o n a l class;

n e i t h e r s h o u l d t h e mere commission of a c r i m i n a l a c t by a

p e r s o n o n c e deemed t o b e a member o f t h i s c l a s s n e c e s s a r i l y

b e c o n s t r u e d a s e v i d e n c e of h i s c o n t i n u e d i n c l u s i o n i n t h i s

class.

I n Rouse v . Cameron (D.C. Cir. 1 9 6 6 ) , 373 F.2d 451, t h e

F e d e r a l C o u r t o f A p p e a l s was f a c e d w i t h a s i m i l a r s i t u a t i o n

and a s i m i l a r s t a t u t o r y scheme. That c o u r t concluded:

". . . A p e r s o n i n v o l u n t a r i l y committed and con-
f i n e d under D.C.Code § 24-301 i s e n t i t l e d t o re-
l e a s e i f h e h a s ' r e c o v e r e d h i s s a n i t y and w i l l n o t
i n t h e reasonable f u t u r e be dangerous t o himself
o r others.' T h a t t h e ' p e r s o n s o c o n f i n e d h a s some
dangerous p r o p e n s i t i e s does n o t , s t a n d i n g a l o n e ,
w a r r a n t h i s c o n t i n u e d c o n f i n e m e n t i n a government
m e n t a l i n s t i t u t i o n u n d e r S 24-301 D.C.Code. -
The
... --
must b e r e l a t e d to
- a r i s e o u t-f -n abnormal m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n . ' "
or - o a
373 F.2d a t 459. (Emphasis a d d e d . )
Accord, S t a t e v . C u v e l i e r ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 175 Conn. 1 0 0 , 394 A.2d

I n o t h e r words, t h e m e r e f a c t t h a t a p e r s o n may have

o n c e been a c q u i t t e d on t h e b a s i s of i n s a n i t y d o e s n o t f o r -

e v e r a f t e r i n s u l a t e him from t h e s a n c t i o n s imposed u n d e r t h e

c r i m i n a l j u s t i c e s y s t e m i n t h e e v e n t of f u t u r e c r i m i n a l o r

a n t i s o c i a l c o n d u c t , a b s e n t some e v i d e n c e t h a t h i s f u t u r e

c o n d u c t i s somehow r e l a t e d t o h i s m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t .

P e o p l e v . D u b l i n ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 63 111.App.3d 387, 380 N.E.2d 311

35; L e e v . Kolb (W.D. N . Y . 1 9 7 8 ) , 449 F.Supp. 1368, 1382. I n

s h o r t , a s e x u a l p s y c h o p a t h s h o u l d n o t b e a b l e t o r o b a bank,

f o r example, and b e a u t o m a t i c a l l y immune from c r i m i n a l

punishment by v i r t u e of h i s e a r l i e r d i a g n o s e d i n s a n i t y .

N e i t h e r s h o u l d t h e f a c t t h a t h e robbed t h e bank a u t o m a t i c a l l y

b e t a k e n a s evidence of h i s c o n t i n u i n g s e x u a l psychopathy.

T h e r e must b e some d e m o n s t r a t e d r e l a t i o n between t h e two

types of behavior.

I n t h i s regard, t h e following discussion i n Goldstein &

K a t z , Dangerousness - M e n t a l I l l n e s s , 70 Y a l e L . J .
and 225,

237-38 (1960) i s i n f o r m a t i v e :

". . . what d i s p o s i t i o n i s t o b e made of t h o s e
a c q u i t t e d by r e a s o n of i n s a n i t y who r e m a i n dan-
gerous--whatever meaning w i l l b e g i v e n t o t h a t
word--but who have ' r e c o v e r e d s a n i t y ' a t l e a s t
t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e y c o u l d no l o n g e r be h e l d
had t h e y b e e n c i v i l l y committed? C o n t i n u e d de-
t e n t i o n would b e t h e s t a t u t o r y answer. --
But t o
hold a p a t i e n t s o l e l y f o r p o t e n t i a l dangerous-
n e s s would s n a p t h e t h i n l i n e between d e t e n t i o n
f o r therapy detention -retribution.
for ..
- -o r e l e a s e s u c h p e r s o n s would i n e f f e c t b e
Not t
- e q u a t e an u n d e f i n e d ' d a n g e r o u s n ~ s ' w i t -
to -h an
undefined mental i l l n e s s . S i n c e t h e r e c a n b e no
such equation, a d e c i s i o n n o t t o r e l e a s e s o l e l y
o n t h e b a s i s of p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r o u s n e s s would b e
l i k e a decision not t o discharge a tubercular
p a t i e n t - - t h o u g h no l o n g e r i n f e c t i o u s - - b e c a u s e h e
i s a p o t e n t i a l k i l l e r o r check-forger . . ." (Em-
p h a s i s added.)
 Evidence t h a t O l s o n ' s a t t a c k on White w a s r e l a t e d t o

h i s m e n t a l d i s o r d e r d i a g n o s e d i n 1970 i s l a c k i n g i n t h i s

case. I n f a c t , had Olson f i r s t come t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e

p o l i c e a s a r e s u l t o f h i s a t t a c k on White and had he a t t h a t

t i m e chosen t o r e l y on t h e d e f e n s e of i n s a n i t y , t h e d e f e n d a n t
would have been u n s u c c e s s f u l b e c a u s e everyone who examined

him found no e v i d e n c e o f m e n t a l d i s o r d e r .

Instead t h e evidence i s t o t h e opposite e f f e c t . All

o f t h e p s y c h i a t r i c and p s y c h o l o g i c a l e v a l u a t i o n s of Olson

performed a f t e r h i s recommitment t o Warm S p r i n g s were made

w i t h f u l l knowledge o f h i s a t t a c k on White. Even w i t h t h i s

knowledge, t h e s e e x p e r t s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t Olson s u f f e r e d no

m e n t a l d i s o r d e r a s of t h e t i m e of t h e i r e x a m i n a t i o n .

I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n , t h e p r o v i s i o n s of s e c t i o n 95-

5 0 8 ( 4 ) , R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n 46-14-304 MCA, a r e r e l e -

vant:

" ( 4 ) I f , within f i v e (5) years a f t e r the conditional
r e l e a s e of a committed p e r s o n , t h e c o u r t d e t e r m i n e s ,
a f t e r h e a r i n g e v i d e n c e , t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n s of r e -
l e a s e have n o t been f u l f i l l e d and t h a t f o r t h e s a f e t y
o f t h e p e r s o n o r f o r t h e s a f e t y of o t h e r s h i s con-
d i t i o n a l r e l e a s e should be revoked, t h e c o u r t s h a l l
immediately o r d e r him t o be recommitted t o t h e s u p e r -
i n t e n d e n t of Warm S p r i n g s s t a t e h o s p i t a l , s u b j e c t t o
d i s c h a r g e o r r e l e a s e o n l y i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e pro-
c e d u r e p r e s c r i b e d above i n s u b s e c t i o n s ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) . "

A s n o t e d above, O l s o n ' s s t a t u s a t t h e t i m e of h i s

a t t a c k on White on September 1, 1977, was u n i q u e . H e had

walked away from Warm S p r i n g s i n August 1972 and had l i v e d

i n Great F a l l s f o r t h e next f i v e years. During t h i s p e r i o d ,

Olson found a job, j o i n e d a u n i o n , j o i n e d t h e l o c a l Moose

Lodge, and a p p a r e n t l y e s t a b l i s h e d a more c o m p a t i b l e , under-

standing r e l a t i o n s h i 2 with h i s wife. The d e g r e e t o which

Olson f i t i n t o t h e community i s a t t e s t e d t o by t h e 35 p e r -

s o n a l r e f e r e n c e l e t t e r s from h i s e m p l o y e r s , f r i e n d s , and
mworkers admitted i n t o evidence a t t h e hearing. See, H i l l

v . S t a t e ( F l a . App. 1 9 7 8 ) , 358 So.2d 190, 205.

I n a v e r y r e a l s e n s e , t h e n , h i s s t a t u s was t h a t of a

conditional, a l b e i t self-determined, releasee, the condition

f r a n k l y b e i n g t h a t h e a v o i d c o n t a c t w i t h t h e law. For t h e

f i v e - y e a r p e r i o d s p e c i f i e d i n s e c t i o n 95-508 ( 4 ) , Olson l i v e d

up t o t h i s c o n d i t i o n .

W r e c o g n i z e , of c o u r s e , t h a t t h i s s e c t i o n i s n o t
e

d i r e c t l y a p p l i c a b l e t o a person i n Olson's s t a t u s . Never-

t h e l e s s , t h e i n t e n t of t h e l e g i s l a t u r e i n e n a c t i n g t h i s

s e c t i o n was t o c r e a t e a t i m e l i m i t beyond which t h e S t a t e

c a n n o t a u t o m a t i c a l l y r e v o k e t h e r e l e a s e of a p e r s o n once

committed t o Warm S p r i n g s and s u b s e q u e n t l y r e t u r n e d t o t h e

community. Olson d i d s u c c e s s f u l l y l i v e i n G r e a t F a l l s ,

under h i s s e l f - i m p o s e d c o n d i t i o n s , f o r l o n g e r t h a n t h i s

s t a t u t o r y time l i m i t . To t a k e him from h i s s u c c e s s f u l l y

r e c r e a t e d l i f e and r e t u r n him t o an i n d e f i n i t e c o n f i n e m e n t

i n Warm S p r i n g s on t h e s o l e b a s i s of a misdemeanor a s s a u l t

c h a r g e c a r r y i n g a maximum s i x month s e n t e n c e o f f e n d s t h i s

intent. T h e r e f o r e , w e t h i n k i t was incumbent upon t h e S t a t e

a t t h i s l a t e d a t e t o have come forward w i t h s t r o n g e r e v i -

d e n c e t h a n w a s p r e s e n t e d t o show t h a t Olson c o n t i n u e s t o

s u f f e r from a m e n t a l d i s o r d e r r e q u i r i n g h i s renewed con-

f i n e m e n t a t Warm S p r i n g s .

The S t a t e a p p a r e n t l y assumed t h a t i t o n l y had t o show

t h a t Olson a t one t i m e had a m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t and

t h a t more r e c e n t l y h e had committed an a n t i s o c i a l a c t w i t h -

o u t having t o show a r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e two. T h i s was

an erroneous assumption. On t h e e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d t h u s

f a r , Olson h a s shown by a preponderance of t h e e v i d e n c e he

i s entitled t o h i s release.
 I t i s n o t t h e f u n c t i o n o f t h i s C o u r t , however, t o

d i r e c t t h e release o f p e r s o n s committed t o Warm S p r i n g s

S t a t e H o s p i t a l ; t h a t power b e l o n g s t o t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t .

S e c t i o n 95-508, R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n s 46-14-301 through

-304 MCA; A p p l i c a t i o n o f Zion ( 1 9 7 8 ) , Mont. , 585

P.2d 1084, 1090, 35 St.Rep. 1475, 1482. Given t h e s e r i o u s -

n e s s o f t h e o f f e n s e s f o r which Olson was o r i g i n a l l y com-

m i t t e d , t h e f a c t t h a t h e h a s undergone no p s y c h i a t r i c t r e a t -

ment s i n c e t h e t i m e o f h i s " r e l e a s e " from t h e h o s p i t a l , t h e

two i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g K a r l a White, and t h e f a c t t h a t t h e

S t a t e p r o c e e d e d on a n e r r o n e o u s a s s u m p t i o n a s t o i t s b u r d e n

o f proof i n t h e p r e v i o u s h e a r i n g , w e conclude t h a t t h i s

c a u s e m u s t b e remanded f o r f u t h e r t e s t i m o n y on t h e s p e c i f i c

q u e s t i o n of whether O l s o n ' s a n t i s o c i a l behavior a s i l l u s -

t r a t e d i n t h e i n c i d e n t s i n v o l v i n g K a r l a White have a n y

r e l a t i o n s h i p t o any m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t c u r r e n t l y

s u f f e r e d by O l s o n . P e o p l e v . D u b l i n ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 63 I l l . A p p . 3 d

387, 380 N.E.2d 31, 35; A p p l i c a t i o n o f $filler ( 1 9 7 4 ) , 46

A.D.2d 1 7 7 , 362 N.Y.S.2d 628, 633-34. The p o i n t t o b e

d e t e r m i n e d by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t i s w h e t h e r O l s o n ' s p r e s e n t

" d a n g e r o u s n e s s , " i f a n y , i s r e l a t e d t o o r growing o u t o f t h e

abnormal m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n h e e x h i b i t e d i n 1970.

The m e r e f a c t t h a t Olson may h a v e a t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s

a n t i s o c i a l b e h a v i o r i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t t o w a r r a n t h i s con-

t i n u e d c o n f i n e m e n t i n Warm S p r i n g s . See, H a r r i s v . United

S t a t e s (D.C. 1 9 7 6 ) , 356 A.2d 630, 632. I f Olson d o e s n o t

s u f f e r from a m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t which c a u s e s t h i s

b e h a v i o r , t h e r e i s no r e a s o n f o r c o n t i n u i n g t o i n c l u d e him

i n t h e exceptional c l a s s of people discussed e a r l i e r .

Baxstrom v . H e r o l d ( 1 9 6 6 ) , 383 U.S. 1 0 7 , 114-15, 86 S . C t .

760, 764-65, 1 5 L.Ed.2d 620, 625-26. The o r d i n a r y p u n i s h -
ments of t h e c r i m i n a l j u s t i c e s y s t e m a r e a d e q u a t e t o h a n d l e

Olson's f u t u r e c r i m i n a l conduct, i n such circumstances.

W e a l s o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e District Court i s n o t limited

t o e i t h e r recommit O l s o n t o Warm S p r i n g s o r r e l e a s e him

unconditionally. S e c t i o n 95-508 g i v e s t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t

a u t h o r i t y t o r e l e a s e c o n d i t i o n a l l y p e r s o n s committed t o t h e

S t a t e H o s p i t a l by p l a c i n g s u c h c o n d i t i o n s a s i t deems n e c e s -

s a r y on t h e release. But see, A p p l i c a t i o n o f Zion ( 1 9 7 8 ) ,

Mont. , 585 P.2d 1084, 35 St.Rep. 1475. On remand,

t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t s h o u l d n o t f o r e c l o s e t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of

c o n d i t i o n a l r e l e a s e a s a p r o p e r means o f b a l a n c i n g O l s o n ' s

i n t e r e s t i n liberty against society's i n t e r e s t i n protection

from p o t e n t i a l l y d a n g e r o u s p e r s o n s . A p p l i c a t i o n o f Zion,

585 P.2d a t 1087, 35 St.Rep. a t 1478; H i l l v . S t a t e , 358

So.2d a t 209.

The judgment o f t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t d e n y i n g O l s o n ' s

p e t i t i o n f o r r e l e a s e i s reversed. The c a u s e i s remanded f o r

f u r t h e r proceedings c o n s i s t e n t with t h i s opinion.

W e concur:

Justices
Mr. J u s t i c e John Conway H a r r i s o n d i s s e n t i n g :

I dissent. I am aware of t h e d i f f i c u l t problem f a c e d

by t h e m a j o r i t y , and p e r h a p s t h e s o l u t i o n p r e s e n t e d i s t h e

o n l y one a v a i l a b l e . However, t h e t i m e h a s come t o f o c u s on

t h e a b s u r d p o s i t i o n s t h a t c o u r t s a r e now p u t i n when i n t e r -

p r e t i n g t h e m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n of d e f e n d a n t s i n t r y i n g t o

determine t h e i r criminal l i a b i l i t y .

A p p e l l a n t , a s n o t e d i n t h e o p i n i o n of t h e m a j o r i t y and

i n a p r i o r c a s e b e f o r e t h i s C o u r t , i s a known r a p i s t . Prior

t o , and n o t e d i n o u r o p i n i o n i n S t a t e v . Olson ( 1 9 7 1 ) , 156

Mont. 339, 480 P.2d 822, h e w a s c h a r g e d w i t h a n a s s a u l t i n a

c o u n t y a d j a c e n t t o L i n c o l n County and a l l o w e d t o p l e a d t o a

lesser o f f e n s e . The t e s t i m o n y of d e f e n s e p s y c h i a t r i s t s i n

t h e above c a s e i n d i c a t e d t h a t he w a s e n t i t l e d t o t h e p r o v i -

s i o n s of s e c t i o n s 46-14-101 t h r o u g h 46-14-304 MCA ( f o r m e r l y

s e c t i o n s 95-501 t h r o u g h 95-509, R.C.M. 1947). Dr. Wetzler

i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e was a dangerous p e r s o n who had:

". . . a grave d e f e c t , a grave i l l n e s s , a
s e r i o u s problem o f h i s i n a b i l i t y t o a c c e p t
h i s own s e x u a l f e e l i n g s any more t h a n you
o r I c a n p e r h a p s a c c e p t o r c o n t r o l hunger
... I cannot p r e d i c t t h e outlook. I would
s a y i t would b e a g r i m and guarded one ...
Because of t h e l o n g d u r a t i o n of h i s i l l n e s s
and p a r t i c u l a r l y a s w e a r e a g a i n d e a l i n g w i t h
a p e r s o n a l i t i e s weakness, a p e r s o n a l i t y d e f e c t
. . . Because h e i s dangerous t o b e a t l a r g e .
H e h a s no c o n t r o l a t t i m e s . T h i s i s what w e
are t a l k i n g about, h i s c o n t r o l , h i s d e f e c t ,
his illness. I f h e h a s shown t h e s e m a n i f e s t a -
t i o n s s i n c e 1 2 , 1 4 y e a r s of a g e , and h e i s
now what, 27, 28, p l u s t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e Min-
n e s o t a M u l t i p h a s i c T e s t , w e have c o n c l u s i v e
proof t h a t t h i s man needs t o be c o n f i n e d . "

With t h i s t e s t i m o n y b e f o r e t h e c o u r t and a v a i l a b l e

l a t e r f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n by a t t e n d i n g p s y c h i a t r i s t s , and w i t h

l i t t l e o r no t r e a t m e n t a t t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l d u r i n g t h e y e a r

h e s p e n t t h e r e , w e now have t e s t i m o n y b e f o r e u s t h a t h e

s h o u l d have n e v e r been s e n t t o t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l . If that
i s t r u e , f r a u d was p e r p e t r a t e d on t h e c o u r t when i t found

a p p e l l a n t n o t g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f i n s a n i t y . Had t h e t r i a l

c o u r t n o t a c c e p t e d t h i s t e s t i m o n y , a p p e l l a n t would have
f a c e d r e t r i a l and c o u l d have been c o n v i c t e d and s e n t e n c e d t o

a l o n g t e r m i n t h e S t a t e Prison--from which e s c a p e i s con-

s i d e r a b l y more d i f f i c u l t t h a n i t i s from t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l .

I n a d d i t i o n I am d i s t u r b e d t h a t a p a t i e n t a t t h e S t a t e

H o s p i t a l " d e s i g n a t e d a s dangerous" c a n walk away from t h a t

i n s t i t u t i o n , w i t h no n o t i f i c a t i o n t o t h e committing a u t h o r -

i t i e s , o r t o any of t h e law enforcement a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e

State. The r e s u l t i s t h a t w e have s u c h a p e r s o n a t l a r g e i n

the S t a t e f o r a five-year period. Somewhere i n t h i s c a s e ,

we have a complete breakdown of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o t h e p e o p l e

of t h i s S t a t e . They a r e e n t i t l e d t o more p r o t e c t i o n - -

p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e women of t h i s S t a t e - - t h a n h a s been e x h i -

b i t e d here. F a i l u r e on t h e p a r t of t h e S t a t e H o s p i t a l

a u t h o r i t i e s t o n o t i f y law enforcement o f f i c i a l s e v i d e n c e s ,
i n my o p i n i o n , g r o s s n e g l i g e n c e and a r e c k l e s s d i s r e g a r d f o r

t h e r i g h t s and s a f e g u a r d o f t h e p u b l i c .

A s a r e s u l t of s u c h a c t i o n s by s t a t e o f f i c i a l s i n o t h e r

j u r i s d i c t i o n s , p e r s o n s i n j u r e d by such i n m a t e s , o r t h e i r

survivors, a r e seeking r e d r e s s a g a i n s t t h e s t a t e f o r i n j u r i e s

done by t h e i n m a t e w h i l e a t l a r g e . 2 R e s t a t e m e n t of T o r t s

2d g i v e s g u i d a n c e on t h e i s s u e of t h e d u t y owed any members

of b o a r d s o r t h e r e s p o n s i b l e o f f i c i a l s a t i n s t i t u t i o n s who
r e l e a s e such persons. S e c t i o n 3 1 9 , "Duty of Those i n Charge
o f P e r s o n Having Dangerous P r o p e n s i t i e s " s t a t e s :
"One who t a k e s c h a r g e o f a t h i r d p e r s o n whom
h e knows o r s h o u l d know t o b e l i k e l y t o c a u s e
b o d i l y harm t o o t h e r s i f n o t c o n t r o l l e d i s
under a d u t y t o e x e r c i s e r e a s o n a b l e c a r e t o
c o n t r o l t h e t h i r d p e r s o n t o p r e v e n t him from
d o i n g such harm."
 The i l l u s t r a t i o n s t o S e c t i o n 319 i n v o l v e t h e n e g l i g e n t

r e l e a s e o f a n i n f e c t i o u s p a t i e n t from a p r i v a t e h o s p i t a l

w i t h a n i n f e c t i o u s d i s e a s e ( b a s e d , i n t e r a l i a , on M i s s o u r i ,

K & T. R. Co. v . Wood ( 1 9 0 2 ) , 95 Tex. 223, 66 S.W. 449) and

t h e e s c a p e of a h o m i c i d a l maniac p a t i e n t d u e t o t h e n e g l i -

gence of g u a r d s employed by a s a n i t a r i u m ( b a s e d , i n t e r a l i a ,

on A u s t i n W. J o n e s Co. v . S t a t e ( 1 9 2 3 ) , 1 2 2 M e . 2 1 4 , 119 A.

577).

The S t a t e a s s e r t s i t used W e t z l e r ' s 1970 t e s t i m o n y

b e c a u s e W e t z l e r was o u t of s t a t e , r e s i d i n g i n t h e S t a t e of

Washington, where h e h a s h i s p r a c t i c e , and w a s t h e r e f o r e n o t

available t o testify. I n f a c t , D r . W e t z l e r h a s r e t i r e d and

h i s records a r e n o t a v a i l a b l e a t t h i s time.

I b e l i e v e t h e t r a n s c r i b e d t e s t i m o n y was c l e a r l y admis-

s i b l e under s e c t i o n 9 5 - 1 8 0 2 ( e ) , R.C.M. 1947, now s e c t i o n 46-

15-204 MCA, which p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e sworn t r a n s c r i b e d t e s t i -

mony of a w i t n e s s , t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t h a s been a b l e t o

cross-examine, i s a d m i s s i b l e i f t h e w i t n e s s i s o u t of t h e

state. S t a t e v . LaCario ( 1 9 7 4 ) , 163 Mont. 511, 518 P.2d

982; S t a t e v . B o u l d i n ( 1 9 6 9 ) , 153 Mont. 277, 456 P.2d 830;

and S t a t e v . Zachmeier ( 1 9 6 9 ) , 153 Mont. 64, 453 P.2d 783.

A s t o t h e presumption of c o n t i n u i n g i n s a n i t y , Montana

r e c o g n i z e s t h e common law presumption t h a t i n s a n i t y , o n c e

p r o v e d , i s presumed t o e x i s t . Appellant's assertion t h a t

t h e presumption e n d s a f t e r f i v e y e a r s i s wholly unfounded.

Presumption must b e judged on a case-by-case basis; the

i n f e r e n c e s t e a d i l y d i m i n i s h e s i n f o r c e w i t h t h e l a p s e of
t i m e a t a r a t e p r o p o r t i o n a t e t o t h e q u a l i t y of t h e perma-

nence b e l o n g i n g t o t h e t h i n g i n q u e s t i o n u n t i l i t c e a s e s .

Sommer v . Wigen ( 1 9 3 6 ) , 103 Mont. 327, 62 P.2d 333; P e o p l e

v . Baker ( 1 9 5 4 ) , 4 2 Cal.2d 550, 268 P.2d 705; S t a t e V.

Garver ( 1 9 5 0 ) , 190 O r . 291, 225 P.2d 771.
 The S t a t e w a s r e q u i r e d t o p r o v e t h a t O l s o n ' s i n s a n i t y
w a s permanent and c o n t i n u i n g . Wetzler's testimony c l e a r l y

went t o t h a t q u e s t i o n . The S t a t e was n o t t r y i n g t o p a s s t h e
testimony o f f a s evidence of Olson's condition a t t h e t i m e

of t h e h e a r i n g b u t a s t e s t i m o n y c o n c e r n i n g O l s o n ' s former

c o n d i t i o n which was t o s e r v e a s a n e x p l a n a t i o n of h i s c u r -

r e n t actions.

Olson was d i a g n o s e d i n 1970 a s h a v i n g a m e n t a l problem
of l o n g s t a n d i n g f o r which h e was o r d e r e d t o be c o n f i n e d and

treated. Y e t one y e a r a f t e r h i s commitment, Olson e s c a p e d

from Warm S p r i n g s and f o r t h e f i v e y e a r s between 1972 and

1977 r e c e i v e d no t r e a t m e n t . Thus, a p p e l l a n t h a s been e s s e n -

t i a l l y u n t r e a t e d f o r t h i s g r a v e i l l n e s s ; a presumption t h a t

it continues is appropriate.

The S t a t e d o e s n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e o r i g i n a l t e s t i m o n y
o n i n s a n i t y i s always s u f f i c i e n t t o keep t h e p e r s o n c o n f i n e d .

I t was t h e combination o f W e t z l e r ' s t e s t i m o n y , t h e a t t a c k on

White, and t h e f a c t t h a t Olson had r e c e i v e d no t r e a t m e n t

which made t h e S t a t e ' s c a s e .

A s t o t h e u s e of Karla White's testimony, t h e r e was

s u b s t a n t i a l s i m i l a r i t y between t h e 1969 r a p e s committed by

Olson, t h e 1977 a t t a c k on White, and t h e 1976 a p p e a r a n c e by
Olson i n W h i t e ' s bedroom. While no s e x u a l a s s a u l t t o o k
p l a c e , t h e r e may have been one had n o t t h e p o l i c e i n t e r v e n e d

i n one i n c i d e n t o r White n o t had a male companion i n t h e

other .
The 1969 r a p e s took p l a c e a t n i g h t when t h e v i c t i m s '
husbands w e r e away and a f t e r Olson had t h r e a t e n e d t o harm
t h e i r c h i l d r e n . The a t t a c k on White a l s o o c c u r r e d a t n i g h t ,

and a p p e l l a n t had i n q u i r e d a s t o t h e whereabouts of h e r

c h i l d and husband.
 Olson was r e q u i r e d t o prove t h a t h e was e n t i t l e d t o

release by a preponderance o f t h e e v i d e n c e . Appellant

produced e v i d e n c e t h a t h e i s n o t m e n t a l l y ill and t h a t h e

h a s a d j u s t e d t o community and f a m i l y l i f e . The S t a t e , on

t h e o t h e r hand, produced e v i d e n c e t h a t a p p e l l a n t w a s d i a g -

nosed i n 1970 a s h a v i n g a g r a v e and s e r i o u s m e n t a l i l l n e s s ,

t h a t he had r a p e d two women i n 1969, and t h a t h e had p e r p e -

t r a t e d a n a t t a c k upon a woman i n 1977 t h a t was s i m i l a r , as

f a r a s i t went, t o t h e e a r l i e r r a p e s . The e v i d e n c e a l s o

showed t h a t a p p e l l a n t had r e c e i v e d e s s e n t i a l l y no t r e a t m e n t

f o r h i s mental i l l n e s s . Upon t h i s r e c o r d , t h e D i s t r i c t

C o u r t was e n t i r e l y j u s t i f i e d i n d e t e r m i n i n g , a s i t d i d , t h a t

a p p e l l a n t had n o t shown an e n t i t l e m e n t t o r e l e a s e by a

p r e p o n d e r a n c e of t h e e v i d e n c e .

Even i g n o r i n g t h e t r a n s c r i p t of W e t z l e r ' s t e s t i m o n y ,

t h e e v i d e n c e shows t h a t Olson was a p h y s i c a l danger t o

o t h e r s i n 1970 and remained s o i n 1977. As stated i n the

Revised Commission Comment t o s e c t i o n 95-508, R.C.M. 1947,

now s e c t i o n s 46-14-301 t h r o u g h 46-14-304 MCA:

". . . I t s e e m s p r e f e r a b l e t o make dangerous-
ness t h e c r i t e r i o n f o r continued custody r a t h e r
t h a n t o p r o v i d e t h a t t h e committed p e r s o n may
b e d i s c h a r g e d o r r e l e a s e d when r e s t o r e d t o
s a n i t y a s d e f i n e d by t h e m e n t a l h y g i e n e laws.
Although h i s m e n t a l d i s e a s e may have g r e a t l y
improved, s u c h a p e r s o n may s t i l l b e d a n g e r o u s
b e c a u s e of f a c t o r s i n h i s p e r s o n a l i t y and back-
ground o t h e r t h a n m e n t a l d i s e a s e . A l s o , such
a s t a n d a r d p r o v i d e s a p o s s i b l e means f o r t h e
c o n t r o l of t h e o c c a s i o n a l d e f e n d a n t who may b e
q u i t e dangerous b u t who s u c c e s s f u l l y f e i g n e d
m e n t a l d i s e a s e t o g a i n an a c q u i t t a l . . ."
T h i s comment i s p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h e p r e s e n t

c a s e based on W h i t e ' s u n c o n t r o v e r t e d t e s t i m o n y .

I would a f f i r m t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t .

/ \ Justice r