MONROE - A Green County judge committed a former Monroe man Friday to a secure treatment facility under the state's sexually violent person law.
Judge James Beer committed Chad E. Baird, 28, to the custody of the State Department of Health Service for mental health treatment after finding that Baird remains a risk to re-offend after serving a seven-year prison term for first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Baird had pleaded guilty in Green County Circuit Court in February 2002, after being charged with sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in September 2001. Beer sentenced Baird to seven years in prison to be followed by 13 years supervised release.
Baird was about to be released from prison last August when the state filed a petition to seek further commitment. The state alleged that Baird suffers from mental conditions that predispose him to engage in acts of sexual violence. The petition also alleges that Baird is dangerous as his mental disorders make it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence.
In January, Beer found probable cause that Baird needs further confinement for treatment as a sex offender and set a trial for February. That trial was postponed to last week and Baird then gave up his right to trial and stipulated to the commitment order, according to court records.
Under state law a person may be subject to a civil commitment if they have been convicted of a sexually violent offense and have a mental disorder, which makes them dangerous to others. A court determines if their mental disorder makes it likely he or she will commit further acts of sexual violence.
The commitment confines a person to the custody and care of the Department of Health Services for control and treatment until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.
In a separate decision Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal officials can keep prisoners it deems "sexually dangerous" in jail after their prison sentences have been served.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Schaefer represented the state in the Baird case. A call to the attorney general's office for comment wasn't returned in time for this article. Baird was represented by Michael Murphy, a Janesville attorney.
Judge James Beer committed Chad E. Baird, 28, to the custody of the State Department of Health Service for mental health treatment after finding that Baird remains a risk to re-offend after serving a seven-year prison term for first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Baird had pleaded guilty in Green County Circuit Court in February 2002, after being charged with sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in September 2001. Beer sentenced Baird to seven years in prison to be followed by 13 years supervised release.
Baird was about to be released from prison last August when the state filed a petition to seek further commitment. The state alleged that Baird suffers from mental conditions that predispose him to engage in acts of sexual violence. The petition also alleges that Baird is dangerous as his mental disorders make it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence.
In January, Beer found probable cause that Baird needs further confinement for treatment as a sex offender and set a trial for February. That trial was postponed to last week and Baird then gave up his right to trial and stipulated to the commitment order, according to court records.
Under state law a person may be subject to a civil commitment if they have been convicted of a sexually violent offense and have a mental disorder, which makes them dangerous to others. A court determines if their mental disorder makes it likely he or she will commit further acts of sexual violence.
The commitment confines a person to the custody and care of the Department of Health Services for control and treatment until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.
In a separate decision Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal officials can keep prisoners it deems "sexually dangerous" in jail after their prison sentences have been served.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Schaefer represented the state in the Baird case. A call to the attorney general's office for comment wasn't returned in time for this article. Baird was represented by Michael Murphy, a Janesville attorney.