10/27/2026
Jury Finds Prison Inmate Too Dangerous for Release: District Attorney Secures Commitment to State Hospital to Protect Community.
District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury found true that William Cloward (39), originally of Los Angeles County, meets all the criteria of an Offender with a Mental Health Disorder. As a result, he will stay in the custody and care of the California Department of State Hospitals at Atascadero State Hospital instead of being released on parole.
The jury returned its unanimous "true" finding on October 26, 2026, after a three-day trial in San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, Department 7, before the Honorable Erin M. Childs. Following the verdict, the Court denied Mr. Cloward's petition for release and ordered him committed to the Department of State Hospitals for treatment as prescribed by law.
Understanding the law: California's Offender with a Mental Health Disorder (OMD) law (Penal Code section 2960 and following), formerly known as the Mentally Disordered Offender (MDO) law, applies to people sentenced to state prison for serious or violent crimes who have a severe mental disorder that was a cause of, or aggravating factor in, their crimes. When such a person is due for parole, and the severe mental disorder is not in remission and makes them a substantial danger of physical harm to others, they may be required to receive treatment in a secure state hospital as a condition of parole instead of being released into the community. *
The person may challenge that decision in court. At trial, the District Attorney's Office must prove to a jury, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the person met every legal requirement as of the date of their Board of Parole Hearings decision. The commitment lasts one year, and the person may challenge it each year until the parole period ends.
The law is civil, not criminal. Its purpose is not to add punishment. Its purpose is to protect the public while giving treatment, in a locked hospital setting, to people whose serious mental illness makes them dangerous.
"Cases like this are different from a criminal prosecution, but they are just as important to public safety," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "No new crime is being charged. The question is whether a person who served a prison sentence for a serious crime is still so mentally ill and dangerous that release would put the public at risk. When the evidence proves that, these commitments keep dangerous individuals off our streets and lower the chance of violent crime in communities across California. I thank the jurors for their careful attention and service, and everyone who testified, especially the mental health professionals whose expert work made this verdict possible. I also thank the dedicated staff at Atascadero State Hospital, who care for and treat these patients every day while keeping our community safe."
During the trial, the evidence showed that Mr. Cloward has a long history of violence connected to his mental illness. In 2008 he was convicted of attempted robbery in Los Angeles County and sentenced to prison. While on parole, he recklessly set fire to his parents' home in 2009 and was sentenced to six years in state prison. While in prison, he committed more crimes, including assault by a prisoner and battery by a prisoner. In one especially serious attack, he stabbed a sleeping cellmate in the eye with a pencil. He was admitted to Atascadero State Hospital as an Offender with a Mental Health Disorder in 2025.
The People introduced records including the probation report from the arson case, prison rule-violation reports, an involuntary medication order from state prison, and treatment records from Atascadero State Hospital.
Jurors heard expert testimony from Dr. Dia Gunnarsson, a forensic psychologist at Atascadero State Hospital, who interviewed Mr. Cloward, reviewed his records, and consulted with his treatment team. Dr. Gunnarsson testified that Mr. Cloward has schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that causes hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, and that it has affected his perception of reality, judgment, and behavior. She testified that his illness was not in remission at the time of the Board's decision. He continued to hear voices and held grandiose and persecutory delusions, including a belief that his family owns the Disney corporation and that others were conspiring against him.
Dr. Gunnarsson explained why Mr. Cloward posed a substantial danger of physical harm to others. She described a pattern of violence tied to his illness, including the fire and his crimes in prison. She also testified that his risk was raised because he does not believe he has schizophrenia, cannot recognize his symptoms or their link to his past violence, has a history of refusing treatment in the community and in prison, and has no realistic plans for housing, finances, avoiding drug relapse, or staying safe if released.
Mr. Cloward testified on his own behalf. He claimed he has a different mental illness, denied ever harming others because of it, and said he would live with his mother and take medication if released.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Sean C. Baird who is assigned to the Mentally Disordered Offender assignment. Witness Coordinator Rebecca Stolper assisted during the trial.
* The requirements for commitment as an Offender with a Mental Health Disorder are found in Penal Code sections 2960 through 2981, including section 2962. More information may be found here: [insert link to Penal Code section 2962 on leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
For a copy of the petition and order document, visit our website linked in comments below.
Dan Dow District Attorney
