“It was a win for the State”

A civil trial concluded at Oconee Courthouse with a verdict that a young man met the definition of a sexually violent predator.  It means that although Christopher Trent Wilder completed a criminal court sentence, he is now is remanded to a state treatment program for an indefinite period.  Robert Kittle, spokesman for the Attorney’s General Office, called it “a win for the State as a result of teamwork and excellent assistance from Dr. Emily Gottfried of MUSC.”  Wilder chose not to testify.  His side relied on one witness, Dr. Christopher Gillen, psychologist with the Department of Mental Health in Columbia.  The state also relied on one witness only, Dr. Gottfried, who directs the sexual behavior clinic and laboratory at the Medical University of South Carolina.  Jury forewoman Shannon Gibson singled out Gottfried’s testimony as key to influencing her and the other jurors.  The working relationship between Wilder and his attorney, Don Thompson, was called into question yesterday morning when Wilder complained to the judge, outside the presence of the jury, that—and these were his words—“I feel like I’m not being represented.”  He further explained that he felt the two of them had not gotten off to a good start as they prepared for trial.  But Wilder allow that his mother had urged him to go forward with Thompson’s assistance.  Judge Scott Sprouse was satisfied, and the trial finished with Thompson as Wilder’s attorney.