Opinion
F078241
12-10-2019
The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Ronnie Earl HOWELL, Sr., Defendant and Appellant.
Conness Thompson, Martinez, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Kimberley A. Donohue and R. Todd Marshall, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Certified for Partial Publication.
Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of part I. of the Discussion.
Conness Thompson, Martinez, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Kimberley A. Donohue and R. Todd Marshall, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
FRANSON, J. INTRODUCTION
Appellant Ronnie Earl Howell, Sr., contends the trial court order authorizing the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication is not supported by substantial evidence and must be reversed. In an issue of first impression, Howell also contends that Senate Bill No. 1187 (2017–2018 Reg. Sess.) (Sen. Bill 1187) is retroactive and the maximum term of commitment for restoration of his competency should be reduced from three to two years.
We conclude substantial evidence supports the order for involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication. In the published portion of this opinion, we also conclude that Sen. Bill 1187 is not retroactive.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
The Fresno County District Attorney filed a complaint in case No. F18902563 (case No. 563) on April 17, 2018. The complaint charged Howell in count 1 with felony driving under the influence of alcohol ( Veh. Code, § 23152, subd. (a) ); in count 2 with driving with an elevated blood alcohol level ( Veh. Code, § 23152, subd. (b) ); and in count 3 with hit and run driving ( Veh. Code, § 20002, subd. (a) ). Vehicle Code section 23550.5, subdivision (a) enhancements, alleging a prior Vehicle Code section 23152, subdivision (b) conviction, were alleged as to counts 1 and 2. It also was alleged that Howell had suffered numerous prior felony convictions and had served prior prison terms.
On July 10, 2018, the trial court appointed the public defender to represent Howell. Howell pled not guilty to the charges and denied all allegations and enhancements. The public defender declared a conflict and on July 13, 2018, the public defender was relieved as counsel and alternate counsel was appointed to represent Howell.
Howell was the defendant in another criminal proceeding in case No. F18902159 (case No. 159) where a doubt as to Howell’s competency to stand trial had been declared, pursuant to Penal Code section 1368. Defense counsel declared doubt as to Howell’s competency to stand trial in the current case and the trial court ordered criminal proceedings suspended and instituted section 1368 proceedings.
All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.
Howell is the defendant in two other appeals pending before this court in case Nos. F075026 and F078070.
On July 18, 2018, the trial court appointed Howard Terrell, M.D., to examine Howell and assess his competency to stand trial. The competency report was due August 10, with a hearing on competency scheduled for August 15, 2018. Howell filed a handwritten objection to the section 1368 proceeding.
Terrell submitted his report on August 6, 2018. Terrell recommended the trial court find Howell incompetent to stand trial. During the examination, Howell appeared to be responding to internal stimuli, indicated he was having problems with his memory, and initially claimed to be 30 years younger than his actual age.
Howell reported that he has been under treatment for schizophrenia, anxiety, and "[d]eep depression." He had been hospitalized twice, for about nine months each time, for psychiatric reasons. Howell reported suffering visual hallucinations off-and-on for the past three years and reported auditory hallucinations as well. Howell had been prescribed antipsychotic medication in the past but complained it had been discontinued and "he [has] been feeling much worse ever since."
Howell reported "episodes of rapid thoughts and speech with the ability to go up to two days without any need for sleep." He denied ever using "street drugs" but admitted to consuming up to six cans of beer, 16 ounces each, per day. When asked about any history of paranoia, Howell paused and appeared to be responding to internal stimuli.
When asked about the charges against him, Howell erroneously believed he was charged with theft. Terrell questioned Howell about his understanding of the actual charges pending against him. Howell told Terrell "in a paranoid manner that he does not trust his attorney." Howell believed attorneys in the past had "plotted and conspired against him."
Terrell described Howell as someone "who showed frequent evidence of response to internal stimuli as well as paranoia. Impressed me as acutely psychotic." Howell’s "[a]ssociations fluctuated from coherent to loose and tangential with a paranoid theme." His moods "fluctuated from euthymic to upset and paranoid." Terrell found Howell’s reality contact to be poor and memory to be poor to fair.
Terrell’s professional opinion was that Howell "suffers from a psychotic mental disorder, which renders him unable to assist his attorney in a rational manner." Howell needed antipsychotic medication if he was to be restored to mental competency. The evaluation noted that Howell "did not appear to be imminently suicidal or homicidal." Terrell expressed concern, however, about Howell’s "irrational and psychotic state of mind as well as his long history of felonious behavior." Terrell opined that Howell "will be at substantial risk of harming himself or others in the foreseeable future" if not taking antipsychotic medication. Terrell also opined that Howell was not "mentally competent to give informed consent." Terrell recommended the trial court issue an order authorizing the administration of antipsychotic medication "with or without consent."
Terrell was "concerned about the possibility of early dementia." Terrell stated, "If it is determined that he has dementia, antipsychotic medication can increase the rate of sudden death. A wise psychiatrist would provide antipsychotic medication only if it is believed that the potential risks of antipsychotic medication are substantially outweighed by the potential benefits." Terrell recommended that Howell undergo a "dementia workup by a qualified neurologist."
At the August 15, 2018, hearing to consider the evaluation and determine competency, both the prosecution and the defense submitted on the report. The trial court found Howell was not competent and ordered criminal proceedings continue to be suspended. The parties agreed to follow the placement order that had been filed in case No. 159, where Howell had already been committed to the state hospital. Howell was ordered committed to the state hospital until competency was restored. The placement evaluation in case No. 159 provided that antipsychotic medication be administered involuntarily if necessary, as authorized by court order.
On August 21, 2018, an order was filed in the current case committing Howell to the state hospital. The order stated that Howell had been found mentally incompetent pursuant to section 1370. The order provided that the state hospital was to file a written report within 90 days setting forth an opinion concerning the mental competency of Howell and to file such reports every six months thereafter. In addition, the order reiterated the stipulation of the parties adopting the commitment order from case No. 159 and stated the maximum term of commitment exceeds three years. The order further provided:
"The Court authorizes the treatment facility to involuntarily administer antipsychotic medication to the defendant when and as prescribed by the
defendant’s treating psychiatrist for the following reason: The defendant lacks the capacity to make decisions regarding antipsychotic medication, the defendant’s mental disorder requires medical treatment with antipsychotic medication, and, if the defendant’s mental disorder is not treated with antipsychotic medication, it is probable that serious harm to the physical or mental health of the patient will result."
Howell filed a notice of appeal on October 3, 2018. He filed a second notice of appeal on October 9, 2018.
DISCUSSION
Howell raises two issues in this appeal. He contends the trial court order authorizing the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication is not supported by substantial evidence and must be reversed. In an issue of first impression, Howell also contends that Sen. Bill 1187 is retroactive and the maximum term of commitment for restoration of his competency should be reduced from three to two years.
I. Substantial Evidence Supports the Order *
II. Senate Bill No. 1187
On September 30, 2018, the Governor approved Sen. Bill 1187, which went into effect on January 1, 2019. This bill amends section 1370 to reduce the maximum term of commitment for competency restoration to two years instead of three. (Stats. 2018, ch. 1008, § 2.)
On February 13, 2019, appellate counsel directed a letter to the trial court notifying the court that Sen. Bill 1187 provides that the maximum term of commitment for restoration to competency is two years. Appellate counsel requested that the superior court modify the commitment order to reflect a maximum commitment period of two years. The trial court did not act on the letter.
Howell contends that Sen. Bill 1187 is retroactive and the maximum term of commitment for restoration of his competency should be reduced from three to two years.
Analysis
Section 3 states that Penal Code provisions do not apply retroactively unless they specifically so state. In the case of In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740, 747–748, 48 Cal.Rptr. 172, 408 P.2d 948 ( Estrada ), the Supreme Court held that, absent evidence to the contrary, the Legislature intended amendments to statutes that reduce the punishment for a particular crime to apply to all defendants whose judgments were not yet final on the operative date of the amendment. ( People v. Superior Court (Lara) (2018) 4 Cal.5th 299, 306–308, 228 Cal.Rptr.3d 394, 410 P.3d 22 ; People v. Brown (2012) 54 Cal.4th 314, 323, 142 Cal.Rptr.3d 824, 278 P.3d 1182.)
Howell contends Sen. Bill 1187 applies retroactively to him, citing Estrada. The rule of Estrada does not apply to Howell's case because "competency proceedings are civil in nature and collateral to the determination of defendant's guilt and punishment." ( Centeno v. Superior Court (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 30, 43, 11 Cal.Rptr.3d 533.) Statutes addressing mental competency proceedings are curative and protective measures aimed at restoring competency, not punishment for commission of a crime. ( Ibid. )
Howell also cites legislative history as support for his contention that Sen. Bill No. 1187 applies retroactively. Howell cites to language in the legislative history where the author of the legislation states the three-year period for restoration of competency was no longer "reasonable" because "medication-treatment of severely mentally ill individuals has advanced, competency restoration treatment programs have been shown to have consistently high success rates, and we have learned that committed persons attain competency in time periods far shorter than what was considered ‘reasonable’ in 1974." (Sen. Com. on Public Safety, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 1187.) The author also claimed that "the vast majority (80–90%) becomes [sic ] trial-competent within six months of starting treatment, and nearly all who attain competency do so within a year." (Ibid. )
However, had the Legislature intended Sen. Bill 1187 to have retroactive application, it could have included a specific provision to so provide. ( Evangelatos v. Superior Court (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1188, 1212, 246 Cal.Rptr. 629, 753 P.2d 585 ). Moreover, even though a statute may be applied retroactively if there is a clear and compelling indication the Legislature intended such a result ( People v. Alford (2007) 42 Cal.4th 749, 754, 68 Cal.Rptr.3d 310, 171 P.3d 32 ), no such clear and compelling indication is present with SB No. 1187.
Crediting the author's statements, 80 to 90 percent of those found mentally incompetent to stand trial would be unaffected by the change in law because competency would be restored within six months of treatment, and nearly all who attain competency do so within one year of starting treatment. For those who have not attained competency in this period of time, we see no indication in the legislative history that the Legislature intended to usurp the conclusions of the medical professionals and their prescribed courses of treatment for individuals under their care by potentially cutting short competency restoration treatment. Medical professionals may have prescribed a different course of treatment if the available treatment period was two, rather than three, years. Absent a clear intent from legislative history that Sen. Bill 1187 applies retroactively, the "default rule" that no part of a statute is retroactive applies. (§ 3; People v. Brown, supra , 54 Cal.4th at p. 319, 142 Cal.Rptr.3d 824, 278 P.3d 1182.)
Consequently, we conclude Sen. Bill 1187 does not apply retroactively.
DISPOSITION
The order filed on August 21, 2018, committing Howell to the state hospital until mental competency is restored is affirmed.
WE CONCUR:
LEVY, Acting P.J.
POOCHIGIAN, J.
* See footnote, ante , page 396.