Man Facing Lifetime SVP Commitment Walks Free from State Hospital

Attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld of The Rosenfeld Law Firm secures dismissal of case

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:18am

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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 by state medical examiners to determine if he met the criteria for commitment as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP). Rosenfeld secured new evaluations and produced evidence that the man did not meet the criteria, prompting the district attorney to withdraw the SVP commitment petition and dismiss the case.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of skilled criminal defense attorneys in protecting the rights of individuals facing potential lifetime commitment as sexually violent predators, even after serving their prison sentences. It also demonstrates the ability of determined legal advocacy to overcome initial medical evaluations and secure freedom for clients.

The details

According to court documents, after serving a prison sentence for an April 2017 conviction of forcible rape, the man was subjected to an evaluation by state medical examiners to determine whether he met the criteria for commitment as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) under California's Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC § 6600). A petition was then filed seeking his commitment to Coalinga State Hospital. Criminal Defense Attorney Kenneth Rosenfeld intervened on behalf of his client, securing new evaluations by medical examiners and producing evidence that the man did not in fact meet the WIC § 6600 criteria, namely that he was unlikely to reoffend if released. Prompted by Rosenfeld's efforts and the doctors' conclusions, the Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen withdrew the petition for SVP commitment and dismissed the case.

  • In April 2017, the man was convicted of forcible rape.
  • After serving his prison sentence, the man was evaluated by state medical examiners in 2026.

The players

Kenneth L. Rosenfeld

Criminal Defense Attorney at The Rosenfeld Law Firm who intervened on behalf of the client and secured the dismissal of the SVP commitment case.

R.M.

The man facing commitment as a sexually violent predator who was ultimately able to walk free from the state hospital thanks to Rosenfeld's legal efforts.

Jeff Rosen

The Santa Clara District Attorney who withdrew the petition for SVP commitment and dismissed the case based on Rosenfeld's work and the medical examiners' conclusions.

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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

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow R.M. to be released on bail while the district attorney considers whether to appeal the dismissal.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates the critical role of skilled criminal defense attorneys in protecting the rights of individuals facing potential lifetime commitment as sexually violent predators, even after serving their prison sentences. It highlights the ability of determined legal advocacy to overcome initial medical evaluations and secure freedom for clients.