Blume

In March of 1953 the defendant pleaded guilty to four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 702.) Upon suggestion by his attorney that he was an alleged sexual psychopath, the court forthwith adjourned the criminal proceedings and ordered an examination and hearing to determine the issue of sexual psychopathy. The hearing was held accordingly, and on April 14 of the same year the court found the defendant to be a sexual psychopath; ordered his commit ment to the Department of Mental Hygiene at Norwalk State Hospital for observation and diagnosis for a period of 90 days ; and suspended all criminal proceedings until further order of the court. This action was taken pursuant to the provisions of section 5512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

In due course the superintendent of Norwalk State Hospital filed his report with the court recommending an indeterminate commitment to that hospital. At the defendant’s request, the hearing on this matter was continued from time to time, and he was released to the custody of a minister on a probationary basis. These continuances covered a period of two years, and terminated on May 24,…