MADISON - The state Department of Justice (DOJ) will try Chad Baird, of Green County, under the state's sexually violent person statute, according to a justice department statement.
Green County Circuit Court Judge James R. Beer found probable cause to commit Baird to treatment under the state's sexual predator law, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Thursday.
The Department of Justice filed the a petition to commit Baird to treatment Aug. 20.
According to the DOJ petition, Baird was convicted of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in Green County in 2002, and was sentenced to seven years initial confinement in the Wisconsin State Prison System followed by 13 years extended supervision. Baird was scheduled for release from the Department of Corrections on Aug. 25, but will be detained at a Department of Health Services facility to await trial on the petition.
According to Wisconsin statutes a person may be subject to a civil commitment when the person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, has a mental disorder, and is dangerous to others because the mental disorder makes it likely he or she will commit further acts of sexual violence. A civil commitment places the subject in the custody and care of the Department of Health Services until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.
The state's petition alleges that Baird suffers from a mental condition that predisposes him to engage in acts of sexual violence. The petition also alleges that Baird is dangerous because his mental disorder makes it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence. A petition is only an allegation and Baird is legally presumed not to be a sexually violent person until the state proves him to be a sexually violent person at a trial.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Schaefer represents the state in this case.
Green County Circuit Court Judge James R. Beer found probable cause to commit Baird to treatment under the state's sexual predator law, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Thursday.
The Department of Justice filed the a petition to commit Baird to treatment Aug. 20.
According to the DOJ petition, Baird was convicted of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in Green County in 2002, and was sentenced to seven years initial confinement in the Wisconsin State Prison System followed by 13 years extended supervision. Baird was scheduled for release from the Department of Corrections on Aug. 25, but will be detained at a Department of Health Services facility to await trial on the petition.
According to Wisconsin statutes a person may be subject to a civil commitment when the person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, has a mental disorder, and is dangerous to others because the mental disorder makes it likely he or she will commit further acts of sexual violence. A civil commitment places the subject in the custody and care of the Department of Health Services until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.
The state's petition alleges that Baird suffers from a mental condition that predisposes him to engage in acts of sexual violence. The petition also alleges that Baird is dangerous because his mental disorder makes it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence. A petition is only an allegation and Baird is legally presumed not to be a sexually violent person until the state proves him to be a sexually violent person at a trial.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Schaefer represents the state in this case.