in Re: The Commitment of Minor Buford Reeder

In The Court of Appeals Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont ____________________ NO. 09-03-323 CV ____________________ IN RE THE COMMITMENT OF MINOR BUFORD REEDER On Appeal from the 359th District Court Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 02-12-08260-CV MEMORANDUM OPINION Pursuant to Title 11, Chapter 841 of the Health and Safety Code (the SVP statute), the State of Texas filed a petition to civilly commit Minor Buford Reeder as a sexually violent predator. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. §§ 841.001-.150 (Vernon 2003 & Supp. 2004). The trial court found that Reeder suffers from a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to engage in a predatory act of sexual violence and entered a final judgment and order of civil commitment. Reeder appeals presenting two issues. In his first issue, Reeder argues the SVP statute is unconstitutional because it is punitive in nature. This court has repeatedly held the SVP statute is not punitive, In re Commitment of Larkin, 127 S.W.3d 930 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2004, no pet.); In re Commitment of Morales, 98 S.W.3d 288 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2003, pet. denied); In re Commitment of Mullens, 92 S.W.3d 881 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2002, pet. denied); and Beasley v. Molett, 95 S.W.3d 590 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2002, pet. denied), and the Texas Supreme Court has not written on this issue. (1) Issue one is overruled. Reeder's second issue contends the SVP statute and the concomitant "Final Judgment and Order of Commitment" are unconstitutionally vague. Reeder's complaints regarding the order of commitment are based upon its conformance with the statute. This court has held the statute is not unconstitutionally vague, see Larkin, 127 S.W.3d at 932; Morales, 98 S.W.3d at 291; Mullens, 92 S.W.3d at 887-88, and the Texas Supreme Court has not written on this issue. Accordingly, we decline to find the statute and the attendant judgment are unconstitutionally vague. Issue two is overruled. The judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED. _________________________________ DON BURGESS Justice Submitted on July 2, 2004 Opinion Delivered August 26, 2004 Before McKeithen, C.J., Burgess and Gaultney, JJ. 1. But see Fisher v. State, 123 S.W.3d 828 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 2003, pet. filed).