Show-Me State Times

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit has secured the civil commitment of Andrew Mitts after a trial in St. Louis. A jury unanimously determined that Mitts qualifies as a sexually violent predator under Missouri law, leading to his indefinite commitment to the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Attorney General Bailey stated, "My Office remains steadfast in our mission to protect Missourians from sexually violent predators." He praised the SVP Unit's efforts, noting that "the Court has ensured that a dangerous individual can no longer threaten the safety of women in our state."

The SVP Unit focuses on civilly committing sexual predators with mental abnormalities likely to lead them to commit predatory sexual violence if not confined.

Mitts was previously convicted in 2005 for sexual misconduct and invasion of privacy at high schools in St. Charles, requiring him to register as a sex offender for life. In 2019, he was arrested for sexually assaulting women during "Reiki" treatments at his business in St. Louis and had failed to reregister as a sex offender for six years. In 2021, Mitts was convicted of sodomy, multiple counts of sexual abuse, and failure to register as a sex offender. Evidence also included allegations of other unconvicted offenses, including abusing a 15-year-old girl.

At trial, two psychologists testified for the State of Missouri, diagnosing Mitts with Antisocial Personality Disorder and Other Specified Paraphilic Disorder. They concluded that Mitts was unable to control his behavior and likely to continue committing predatory acts.

On June 25, after just over an hour of deliberation, the jury found Mitts to be a sexually violent predator. Consequently, he will be committed for care and treatment by the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Assistant Attorneys General Jeff Suddy Jr and Tristin M. Estep tried the case, which was investigated by Missouri’s SVP Unit and presided over by Judge Joseph Whyte.