Other LanguagesViolent felon remains in custody pending further proceedings
MOUNT VERNON — The Washington Attorney General’s Office has filed a petition in Skagit County Superior Court seeking to civilly commit a sex offender and prevent his release into the community.
John Bettys, 40, has been convicted of three sexually violent offenses: one count of indecent liberties against a child under age 14 in 1989, and two counts of first-degree rape of a child in 1993. He was also convicted of child molestation third degree in 2013.
Bettys was due to be released on Feb. 19, but the Attorney General’s Office petitioned to have him civilly committed, alleging that he is mentally ill and sexually dangerous. On Feb. 17, a Superior Court judge found probable cause to believe Bettys is a sexually violent predator, a preliminary ruling which allows the state to detain him for further proceedings.
Washington’s Sexually Violent Predator law allows the Attorney General’s Office to petition for the civil commitment of violent sex offenders who, because of a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder, are proven likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.
The civil commitment petition consists of allegations that have not yet been proven in a court of law. The State of Washington has the burden to prove the allegations in court.
“Whenever the evidence suggests a sexually violent offender remains a danger to the community, my office will fight to keep that individual secured, to protect the public, and also to ensure needed services are available,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
In 1990, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a law permitting the involuntary civil commitment of sex offenders after they have served their criminal sentences. The Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator Unit was established shortly thereafter.
The SVP unit is responsible for prosecuting sex predator cases for 38 of Washington’s 39 counties (King County being the exception). In Fiscal Year 2014, the unit tried 14 cases, won 9 civil commitments and secured one recommitment. Three trials ended in hung juries, meaning the offenders may be detained for further commitment proceedings, and one trial involved an offender who didn’t meet the criteria to be committed as a sexually violent predator.
As of this month, 292 sexually violent predators are in the state’s Special Commitment Program.
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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is working hard to protect consumers and seniors against fraud, keep our communities safe, protect our environment and stand up for our veterans. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Contacts:
Peter Lavallee, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725; PeterL@atg.wa.gov