Attorney General's News Release

May 9, 2000

Nixon files motion in St. Francois County to keep sexual offender in civil commitment

Jefferson City, Mo. — The St. Francois County probate court will hold a probable cause hearing May 15 to consider a motion by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon to commit a Farmington man to civil commitment as a sexually violent predator following his release from prison.

Nixon filed the motion last Friday (May 5) to commit Anthony Amonette (DOB - 3/10/77), who recently completed a four-year sentence on a 1996 conviction for first degree deviate sexual assault out of St. Francois County.

The hearing in St. Francois County Probate Division concerns the state's motion to have Amonette committed into the custody of the Missouri Department of Mental Health. The law requires a probable cause hearing in that court and provides the opportunity for the defendant to contest probable cause with the assistance of counsel.

The violent sexual predator law, which took effect Jan. 1, 1999, permits the state to retain civil custody — following prison release — of any convicted sexual predator who has been determined to have a mental abnormality that makes the person likely to commit additional predatory sexual acts. The statute provides for a review by psychiatric and other agency professions and a review from a team of prosecutors, including the prosecutor where the original crimes took place.

Once recommendations are made to the Attorney General, the law allows the Attorney General to seek civil commitment by filing a petition in the probate division of the circuit court in which the conviction took place.

If a probable cause determination is made, a second psychiatric evaluation is performed and the court shall conduct a trial to determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator. If such a determination is made, the defendant shall be committed to the custody of the Department of Mental Health until that person is deemed to be safe to society.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818