Opinion
2d Crim. No. B277693
03-22-2017
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. LEONARD OCHOA, Defendant and Appellant.
Christopher L. Haberman, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance by Respondent.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. (Super. Ct. No. 16PT-00486)
(San Luis Obispo County)
Leonard Ochoa appeals the order determining him to be a mentally disordered offender (MDO) and committing him to the California Department of Mental Health (now State Department of State Hospitals) for treatment. (Pen. Code, § 2962 et seq.) We appointed counsel to represent appellant in this appeal. After examining the record, counsel filed an opening brief in which no issues were raised. On March 9, 2017, we advised appellant that he had 30 days within which to personally submit any contentions or issues which he wished us to consider. (See People v. Taylor (2008) 160 Cal.App.4th 304.) On March 17, 2017, we received a supplemental brief from appellant stating, among other things, that he is not violent and does not pose a substantial danger to others.
All statutory references are to the Penal Code. --------
Appellant's commitment offense is for assault with a deadly weapon in which appellant threatened the victim with a knife and made a slashing motion. Doctor Meghan Brannick testified that appellant suffers from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, manifested by auditory hallucinations, the grandiose belief that he is a CIA agent and is being wrongfully imprisoned, persecutory delusions (demons and Satan worshippers out to kill him), paranoia, disorganized thinking, and depressive and manic episodes. Before the Board of Prison Terms hearing, hospital staff observed appellant pantomime swinging an axe, shooting a gun, and shooting a bow and arrow. The doctor stated that appellant was subject to an involuntary medication order (see Keyhea v. Rushen (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 526, 542; In re Qawi (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1, 27), was not in remission, and had a significant alcohol-abuse history. Doctor Brannick opined that appellant met all the MDO criteria and represents a substantial danger of physical harm to others by reason of his severe mental disorder.
We conclude that the expert testimony of Doctor Brannick constitutes substantial evidence that appellant meets the statutory criteria for commitment as an MDO. (§ 2962; People v. Labelle (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 149, 151-153.)
The judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.
YEGAN, J. We concur:
GILBERT, P. J.
TANGEMAN, J.
Jacquelyn H. Duffy, Judge
Superior Court County of San Luis Obispo
Christopher L. Haberman, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
No appearance by Respondent.