Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Announces Commitment of Hector Munoz to Treatment Under Chapter 980

WAUKESHA - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Hector Munoz, age 44, was committed in Waukesha County Circuit Court under Wisconsin's civil commitment law (Chapter 980, Wis. Stats.) following a two day jury trial in Waukesha. Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Mark Gundrum presided over the case.

Chapter 980 of the Wisconsin Statutes relates to the control, care and treatment of sexually violent persons. Under Wisconsin law, a person may be subject to a civil commitment when the person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, has a mental disorder, and is dangerous to others because the mental disorder makes it likely he or she will commit further acts of sexual violence. A civil commitment is defined in Wisconsin law as commitment to the custody and care of the Department of Health Services for control, care, and treatment until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.

According to the Department of Justice petition, in 2003 Munoz was convicted in Waukesha County of Third Degree Sexual Assault involving a 15 year old boy and Exposing a Child to Harmful Materials. Munoz plead guilty and was sentenced to the Wisconsin State Prison System for a total term of seven years to be followed by eight years extended supervision.

Munoz was scheduled to be discharged from the Department of Corrections on February 3, 2010. After the commitment petition was filed by the state, he was instead transferred to secure custody in a Department of Health Services institution while awaiting resolution of the court proceedings.

Assistant Attorney General Rebecca Weise represented the state in this case.