Jury Finds Sexual Predator Too Dangerous: District Attorney Secures Indefinite Commitment to Protect Community

Author: District Attorney
Date: 9/22/2025 5:16 PM

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury has found true that Zoran Petrovic is a Sexually Violent Predator and therefore should remain in the custody and care of the California Department of State Hospitals.

A San Luis Obispo County jury agreed with the District Attorney's petition requesting a finding that Zoran Petrovic (80) is a Sexually Violent Predator. The jury returned their finding of "true" on the petition after hearing evidence over a two-week jury trial.

Understanding the law: California's Sexually Violent Predator Law (SVP law)* allows a District Attorney to petition for the continued detention of an individual beyond their parole period, where that person has been sentenced to state prison for one or more sexually violent offenses, has been diagnosed with a mental disorder, and poses a present danger to the safety of others because they are likely to engage in acts of sexual violence if released into the community.

The SVP law is a civil law, not criminal. This means that its purpose is the protection of the community by providing treatment and rehabilitation in a closed hospital environment that provides safety for the community, not to provide additional punishment. Individuals committed under the SVP law are generally confined within a locked hospital setting, such as Coalinga State Hospital.

"The jury's verdict will make certain that Mr. Petrovic continues to remain in a hospital setting where he is not a threat to our community," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "My office is dedicated to protecting everyone in San Luis Obispo County from dangerous sexual predators like Mr. Petrovic."

During the trial, it was proven that Petrovic had been convicted previously of three qualifying sexually violent crimes including two in San Luis Obispo County and one in a foreign jurisdiction.

In 2006 he was convicted of committing a Lewd Act Upon a Child Under the Age of 14 and being in Possession of Child Pornography. After violating his parole in 2010, he was once again charged and found guilty of Possession of Child Pornography with a prior conviction.

In 2013 Petrovic was placed at the Coalinga State Hospital for consideration of being a Sexually Violent Predator and has remained in the state hospital as a patient and has refused to participate in any sex offender treatment program.

At trial jurors heard testimony from one of his child victims who is now an adult. They also heard testimony from four psychologists who evaluated Mr. Petrovic on different occasions.

The jury heard testimony from experts who opined that Petrovic has a diagnosed mental disorder of pedophilia which means he is predisposed to commit sexually violent offenses on children. Additionally, they found that his mental disorder makes him a substantial and well-founded danger to the safety of others and that it is likely that he will engage in predatory sexually violent criminal behavior if released into the community.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kimberly R. Dittrich who is assigned to the District Attorney's Sexual Violence Unit. The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation. Victim services were provided by Victim Advocate Tristan Milledge.

* The requirements for SVP designation are found in Welfare and Institutions Code sections 6600 and 6601 and include that the individual's diagnosed mental disorder was at least a contributing cause to the commission of their sexually violent offenses. More information about California's Sexually Violent Predator law may be found here: Sexually Violent Predator Statue

Here is a copy of the defendant's booking photo. Here is a copy of the petition.

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