Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/04/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Hilary Moores - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDER RECOMMITTED TO NAPA STATE HOSPITAL

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that Clarence Edward Nelsen’s commitment to Napa State Hospital will be extended for another one year term.  The issue of extending Mr. Nelsen’s commitment under Penal Code section 2970 was put before a Sonoma County jury.  After two days of trial, the jury quickly returned a verdict finding true the allegations that Mr. Nelsen, age 44 and formerly of Santa Rosa, had a severe mental disorder, that the severe mental disorder was not in remission, and that by reason of his severe mental disorder Mr. Nelsen represented a substantial risk of physical harm to others.

On November 30, 1995, Mr. Nelsen stole a car that had been left running and drove it to a feed store in Petaluma, where he accosted the 80 year old proprietor, punching the elderly man several times in the chest and fracturing several ribs. Mr. Nelsen was later convicted of felony charges of battery causing serious bodily injury and auto theft.  He was sentenced to 56 months in state prison.  He was later determined to be a Mentally Disordered Offender under Penal Code section 2962 by the Board of Prison Terms.  Mr. Nelsen has been under the care of Napa State Hospital since 2003 and still manifests the symptoms of a severe mental disorder as defined by law.

Mr. Nelsen’s current commitment to Napa State Hospital will expire on October 5, 2009.

The case was handled by Deputy District Attorney Rosanne T. Darling.