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Expert: Sexual predator a menace

The psychologist testifies that Donald Lee Campbell should to be held under the Ryce Act. Family members say he should be with them.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published February 9, 2005

INVERNESS - No one in the courtroom disputed it: Donald Lee Campbell led a life riddled with troubles.

Campbell's convictions for sexual offenses date to the mid 1980s. His latest conviction was for the attempted kidnapping of a teenage boy and the solicitation for prostitution of another in 2001.

Now, even though he has finished serving his prison sentence, Campbell is battling with the state to be released back into society.

Florida officials have designated Campbell, 43, as a sexually violent predator. As such, he is subject to the Jimmy Ryce Act, a law passed in 1999 that allows for the involuntary civil commitment of people deemed to be at risk of committing more sex crimes and in need of treatment.

Victims of Campbell's crimes, as well as two psychologists who are experts in the research and diagnosis of sexual predators, testified Tuesday in the first day of Campbell's civil trial, which is expected to last two days.

A jury will decide whether Campbell should remain in the state's custody in a treatment program, or go free.

Campbell said he doesn't want to go into the state's treatment program, which is administered at a secure facility in Arcadia. One of his lawyers, Elizabeth Osmond, didn't dispute her client's need for treatment. But she advocated for outpatient treatment, thus allowing Campbell to remain in the community, perhaps in the care of family members.

But prosecutors say Campbell would not be forced to go to treatment if set free, and that he is likely to re-offend.

"The menace aspect is really important," said Karen Parker, a psychologist who testified that Campbell posed a danger to society.

Campbell's family members who attended the first day of the trial were concerned a confined treatment program would do him little good. They said he would be better off living with family members and attending counseling.

One of Campbell's sisters, who declined to give her name, drove from Illinois for the trial. She said she knew her brother needed help, but hoped the jury would release him, allowing him to live with an aunt in Citrus County.

The case is unusual. Although a civil action, the case follows on the heels of his 2001 criminal conviction and includes information from his other criminal convictions, including testimony from victims of Campbell's past crimes.

The trial began early Tuesday morning, shortly after one of the jurors disclosed she knew Campbell years ago when they worked together. She told Circuit Judge Ric Howard that she looked at a photograph of Campbell printed in a recent newspaper article and realized she knew him.

The news came after the juror told attorneys under oath Monday that she didn't know him and wouldn't look at any media accounts of the case. She was dismissed from the jury and replaced.

The next drama came at 9:35 a.m., when Campbell announced he wanted to fire his court-appointed defense team. He told Howard he also was angry with him.

"You violated my constitutional rights," Campbell told the judge.

He told Howard his attorneys had failed to provide him with copies of documents relating to his case. Howard denied Campbell's request and ordered the attorneys to provide Campbell with copies of the documents.

Campbell, who cannot read and does not have a high school education, was incapable of representing himself, Howard said.

Campbell then asked that the court proceedings not be televised. Howard also denied this request and allowed a media outlet's television camera in the courtroom.

Much of the afternoon involved the testimony of Campbell's victims. Their names are withheld because of the nature of the crimes.

One was Campbell's nephew, who was 9 when Campbell performed sex acts on him, he said.

Another was a musician from Illinois, who was 27 when he told authorities Campbell exposed himself and tried to force the musician into his car with a gun and chased him through a neighborhood in a car.

A third was a 15-year-old boy who said he was delivering newspapers when Campbell exposed himself and lunged at him.

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 860-7312 or vansickle@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:43:19]