Man Facing Lifetime SVP Commitment Walks Free After Attorney Intervention

Kenneth Rosenfeld of The Rosenfeld Law Firm secures dismissal of sexually violent predator petition

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:22am

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A man facing commitment as a sexually violent predator in a state hospital has instead had his petition dismissed by the district attorney, thanks to the intervention of Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth L. Rosenfeld of The Rosenfeld Law Firm. After serving a prison sentence for a 2017 rape conviction, the man was evaluated and faced potential lifetime commitment as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) in Coalinga State Hospital. Rosenfeld secured new medical evaluations and produced evidence that the man did not meet the criteria for SVP commitment, leading the district attorney to withdraw the petition and dismiss the case.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges faced by individuals deemed sexually violent predators, who can be subject to indefinite civil commitment even after serving their criminal sentences. Rosenfeld's successful defense demonstrates the importance of skilled legal representation in these complex cases, where the stakes are extremely high for the accused.

The details

After a 2017 conviction for forcible rape, the man known as R.M. was evaluated by state medical examiners to determine if he met the criteria for commitment as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) under California's Welfare and Institutions Code. A petition was filed seeking R.M.'s commitment to Coalinga State Hospital. However, Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld intervened on behalf of his client, securing new evaluations and producing evidence that R.M. did not actually meet the SVP criteria, namely that he was unlikely to reoffend if released. Prompted by Rosenfeld's efforts and the doctors' conclusions, the Santa Clara District Attorney withdrew the SVP commitment petition and dismissed the case, allowing R.M. to walk free.

  • In April 2017, R.M. was convicted of forcible rape in violation of California Penal Code § 261(a)(2).
  • After serving his prison sentence, R.M. was evaluated for potential commitment as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP).
  • In 2026, the district attorney filed a petition seeking R.M.'s commitment as an SVP to Coalinga State Hospital.
  • Over the course of a year, Attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld worked to secure new evaluations and evidence to challenge the SVP petition.
  • On March 16, 2026, the district attorney withdrew the SVP petition and dismissed the case, allowing R.M. to be released.

The players

Kenneth L. Rosenfeld

A criminal defense attorney at The Rosenfeld Law Firm who successfully defended the client against the sexually violent predator (SVP) commitment petition.

R.M.

The man facing potential lifetime commitment as a sexually violent predator after serving a prison sentence for a 2017 rape conviction.

Jeff Rosen

The Santa Clara District Attorney who withdrew the SVP commitment petition and dismissed the case against R.M. after Rosenfeld's intervention.

The Rosenfeld Law Firm

A law firm with offices in California that provides aggressive defense against high-profile criminal cases, including mental health, federal, juvenile, and appellate law.

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What they’re saying

“My client had already paid the price and done his time. If he'd been committed, he would have been in Coalinga for the majority of his life. Instead, we spent a year giving everything we had to achieve something very difficult—get state evaluators to change their minds—and he was able to walk free. He's thrilled, and we're really proud. No law firm could have done any better than what we did on this.”

— Kenneth Rosenfeld, Criminal Defense Attorney (natlawreview.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow R.M. to be released on probation or with any other conditions.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of skilled legal representation in defending against sexually violent predator (SVP) commitments, where individuals can face indefinite civil commitment even after serving their criminal sentences. Rosenfeld's successful defense demonstrates that thorough evaluation and presentation of evidence can lead to the dismissal of these petitions, allowing the accused to regain their freedom.