People v. Dunley

201 Cal. Rptr. 3d 630, 246 Cal. App. 4th 691, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 292
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal, 4th District
DecidedApril 4, 2016
DocketE062656
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 201 Cal. Rptr. 3d 630 (People v. Dunley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal, 4th District primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Dunley, 201 Cal. Rptr. 3d 630, 246 Cal. App. 4th 691, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 292 (Cal. Ct. App. 2016).

Opinion

McKINSTER, J.

*695The Mentally Disordered Offenders Act (Pen.Code, § 2960 et seq. )1 provides for involuntary civil commitment as a condition of parole for prisoners who are found to have "a severe mental disorder" if certain conditions are met. (§ 2962, subds. (a)-(f).)2 The commitment is for a *696term of one year and may be extended annually for an additional year on petition of the district attorney. (§ 2972, subds. (a), (b).)

Appellant Eddie Dunley appeals from a judgment extending his commitment as a mentally disordered offender (MDO). He contends that because persons subject to civil commitment after being found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI) have a statutory right, pursuant to section 1026.5, subdivision (b)(7) (hereafter section 1026.5(b)(7)), not to be compelled to testify in proceedings to extend their commitments (Hudec v. Superior Court (2015) 60 Cal.4th 815, 832, 181 Cal.Rptr.3d 748, 339 P.3d 998 ), so should a person facing commitment as an MDO. He points out that this right has been extended to commitment proceedings for sexually violent predators (SVP) by application of equal protection principles. (People v. Curlee (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 709, 716-722, 188 Cal.Rptr.3d 421.) He contends that NGI's, SVP's and MDO's are all similarly situated with respect to civil commitment procedures.

We hold that MDO's, SVP's and NGI's are all similarly situated with respect to the testimonial privilege provided for in section 1026.5(b)(7). However, as we will discuss, this appeal is moot because a subsequent petition for recommitment was denied by the trial court on or about March 7, 2016, based on the court's finding that appellant no longer met the criteria for commitment as an MDO. Accordingly, although we will decide the threshold issue, which is purely a legal question and will surely reoccur in MDO proceedings in light of People v. Curlee, supra, 237 Cal.App.4th 709, 188 Cal.Rptr.3d 421, we will *634dismiss the appeal as moot.3 (People v. Cheek (2001) 25 Cal.4th 894, 897-898, 108 Cal.Rptr.2d 181, 24 P.3d 1204 ; People v. Gregerson (2011) 202 Cal.App.4th 306, 321, 135 Cal.Rptr.3d 188.)

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On June 9, 2014, the San Bernardino County District Attorney filed a petition pursuant to section 2972 to extend appellant's involuntary commitment as an MDO.

On December 17, 2014, a jury found that appellant met the criteria for commitment as an MDO. Accordingly, the court granted the petition and extended appellant's commitment until January 20, 2016. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal.

*697FACTS

While serving a prison term for robbery, appellant had several incidents of battery on correctional officers. A mental health evaluation was done after each incident. Both evaluations reported that appellant was disorganized and confused. One evaluation concluded that appellant showed severely impaired judgment. The other concluded that he showed psychosis. In 2008, he was committed to Atascadero State Hospital as an MDO. He had previously been admitted to Atascadero in 2001.

Dr. Joe Debruin, a forensic psychologist at Atascadero, evaluated appellant to determine whether he met the criteria for recommitment as an MDO.4 Dr. Debruin reviewed appellant's treatment plan, interdisciplinary and psychiatric progress notes, previous MDO evaluation reports, and the police report concerning his prior offense. He also interviewed appellant.

Dr. Debruin diagnosed appellant with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, which, he testified, is a severe mental disorder that persists over a period of time. He testified that appellant had consistently exhibited symptoms of schizoaffective disorder since he was committed to Atascadero in 2008. Appellant displayed a belief that he was God or "God's son in the flesh," and reported hallucinations and hearing voices, which sometimes commanded him to be aggressive. He had manic episodes during which he spoke in a rapid, disorganized and incoherent manner. He had mood control difficulties and would fluctuate from being very agitated to being depressed. He had paranoid episodes in which he thought people were "messing with his body organs" and that hospital staff were "telling lies and being corrupt." These symptoms continued to occur in the months preceding the hearing. During his current confinement at Atascadero, appellant had 60 violent episodes. The most recent was in December 2013, when appellant repeatedly punched a fellow patient.

Dr. Debruin testified that appellant lacked insight into his condition, i.e., that he did not believe he was mentally ill or that he needed medication. Appellant did not follow his treatment plan or participate in groups, and he was often unwilling to take his medication. Dr. Debruin opined that if appellant were released into the community, he would not take his medication *635and that his symptoms would escalate as a result. *698Based on appellant's prior offenses, violent behavior, delusional statements and lack of insight into his illness, Dr. Debruin opined that appellant's mental disorder was not in remission and, as a result of the disorder, he posed a substantial danger for violence if he were released into the community.

Dr. Martin Steed, appellant's treating psychiatrist for the year and a half preceding the hearing, testified to the same effect. He diagnosed appellant with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, which he characterized as a severe mental disorder.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
201 Cal. Rptr. 3d 630, 246 Cal. App. 4th 691, 2016 Cal. App. LEXIS 292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-dunley-calctapp4d-2016.