People v. Lavold

635 N.E.2d 919, 262 Ill. App. 3d 984, 200 Ill. Dec. 580, 1994 Ill. App. LEXIS 796
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedMay 20, 1994
Docket1-91-0775
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 635 N.E.2d 919 (People v. Lavold) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Lavold, 635 N.E.2d 919, 262 Ill. App. 3d 984, 200 Ill. Dec. 580, 1994 Ill. App. LEXIS 796 (Ill. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinions

JUSTICE COUSINS

delivered the opinion of the court:

Following a civil discharge hearing pursuant to section 104 — 25 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/104 — 25 (West 1992)), Lawrence Lávold (Lavold), an unfit defendant, was found not not guilty of the charges of first degree murder and arson, and was remanded to the custody of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (Department of Mental Health) for extended treatment. After the expiration of the extended treatment period, a hearing was held and the trial court determined that Lavold remained unfit for trial. The court also determined that Lavold constituted a danger to himself and others and was subject to involuntary commitment for a period equal to the maximum sentence for first degree murder. On appeal, Lavold argues that (1) the trial court lost jurisdiction after the expiration of the extended treatment period and, therefore, its order subjecting him to involuntary commitment is void; (2) he was denied due process and effective assistance of counsel at the discharge hearing; (3) he was denied effective assistance of counsel at the habeas corpus hearing; and (4) the trial court erroneously determined that Lavold was subject to the criminal court’s jurisdiction until the year 2035.

BACKGROUND

In November 1975, Lavold was charged with first degree murder and arson. Subsequently, he posted bail and was released. On December 23, 1975, Lavold failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The case was stricken from the call with leave to reinstate.

On June 22, 1981, the case was reinstated and Lavold moved for a psychiatric examination to determine fitness. On August 11, 1981, a psychiatric report was filed with the trial court and a fitness hearing was held. The psychiatric report indicated that Lavold was not mentally fit for trial; the report stated that Lavold was "unable to understand the nature of the charges pending against him and unable to cooperate with counsel in his own defense, because he [was] actively psychotic.” Based upon the psychiatric report and stipulated testimony, the trial court determined that Lavold was not fit for trial. Lavold was remanded to the custody of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. The case was stricken from the call with leave to reinstate.

Periodic examinations were conducted on Lavold to determine whether he would attain fitness within one year. Each of the reports filed with the court indicated that Lavold was not mentally fit for trial. On May 17, 1982, a letter was sent to the trial court by the superintendent of the Mental Health Center at Chester. In his opinion, there was not a substantial probability that Lavold would attain fitness within a period of one year from the date of the original finding of unfitness. The report also stated that, pursuant to statute, it was the understanding of the Department of Mental Health that Lavold should be brought to court for a hearing. There is no evidence that this letter was filed with the court or entered as part of the record prior to July 19, 1983, when it was included in a motion filed by Lavold.

On January 26, 1983, Lavold’s counsel withdrew from the case and new counsel was appointed on June 2, 1983. It is unclear from the record who was representing Lavold during the interim, but the only action taken was the ordering and filing of fitness examinations. On July 19, 1983, counsel for Lavold filed a motion for a discharge hearing pursuant to section 104 — 23(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (725 ILCS 5/104 — 23(a) (West 1992)).

On September 6, 1983, Lavold filed a letter with the court stating that he had fired defense counsel because counsel was deceptive, "maleficent” of duty and conducted himself in an illegal fashion. On September 20, 1983, Lavold requested new counsel and a change of venue.

A fitness hearing was commenced in August 1983 and concluded on October 13, 1983. The court concluded that Lavold was not fit for trial and would not be fit for trial within one year.

On November 10, 1983, a discharge hearing was commenced and after a series of continuances was concluded on May 17, 1984. The State’s evidence at the discharge hearing consisted of one witness and stipulated testimony. Lavold did not present any witnesses. Throughout the hearing, Lavold was disruptive and refused the assistance of counsel. The trial court acknowledged Lavold’s desire to fire his attorney but appointed counsel over Lavold’s objection because the court did not believe that Lavold had the capacity to make such a decision. Lavold’s conduct became so disruptive that the trial court ordered the sheriff to remove him from the courtroom. Lavold was able to hear the proceedings over a speaker in the lock-up area.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Lavold was found not not guilty and discharge was denied. Lavold was remanded back to the Department of Mental Health for an extended five-year period of treatment pursuant to section 104 — 25(d) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (725 ILCS 5/104 — 25(d) (West 1992)). A certificate was filed, at the time of the discharge hearing, which stated that Lavold was "extremely dangerous” and "a person who [was] mentally ill and because of his illness [was] reasonably expected to inflict serious physical harm upon himself or another in the near future.” The case was stricken from the call with leave to reinstate.

On December 2,1986, defense counsel filed a petition for attorney fees and expenses incurred from June 21, 1983, through August 8, 1986. The trial court granted the petition and ordered the treasurer of Cook County to pay defense counsel $2,777.48 for services rendered.

On August 11, 1989, Lavold filed a pro se Federal habeas corpus petition pursuant to 28 U.S.C. section 2254 (1988). The petition was denied on March 15, 1990. The district court found that Lavold’s initial five-year period of commitment had expired without the State making any attempt to hold an extension hearing as required by law. Therefore, the district court concluded that Lavold was being held in violation of State law and should seek his release in a State habeas corpus proceeding.

On September 21, 1989, counsel for Lavold filed a motion for a hearing following treatment pursuant section 104 — 25(g) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (725 ILCS 5/104 — 25(g) (West 1992)). The trial court reinstated the case and placed it on call for December 13, 1989. On June 7, 1990, a hearing was held to determine if Lavold was fit for trial or subject to involuntary commitment pursuant to section 104 — 25(g)(2). Both stipulated and live testimony were heard by the trial court. However, the record of this hearing was not included in the record on appeal. Due to a series of continuances, judgment was not rendered by the trial court until December 13, 1990.

In the interim, Lavold filed a State habeas corpus petition.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
635 N.E.2d 919, 262 Ill. App. 3d 984, 200 Ill. Dec. 580, 1994 Ill. App. LEXIS 796, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-lavold-illappct-1994.