People v. Parrilla

58 V.I. 148, 2013 V.I. LEXIS 30
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedMay 28, 2013
DocketCase Nos. SX-11-CR-086, SX-11-CR-412, SX-11-CR-449
StatusPublished

This text of 58 V.I. 148 (People v. Parrilla) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Parrilla, 58 V.I. 148, 2013 V.I. LEXIS 30 (visuper 2013).

Opinion

DONOHUE, Presiding Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(May 28, 2013)

THIS MATTER is before the Court on Defendant Raphael Panilla’s competency to stand trial. For the following reasons, the Court finds that the Defendant does not presently possess the necessary capacity, ability or knowledge to assist in his own defense or understand the proceedings against him. Pursuant to this determination, the Court will order the People to file an informative motion as to how they will proceed against the Defendant.

I. Background

The People have charged the Defendant with various criminal acts. In People of the Virgin Islands v. Raphael Parrilla, SX-11-CR-86, the [150]*150Defendant is charged with Burglary in the Third Degree in violation of Section 441 of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code and Destruction of Property in violation of Section 1266 of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code. Attorney Lorin Kleeger Esq., represents the Defendant in SX-11-CR-86. In People of the Virgin Islands v. Raphael Parrilla, SX-11-CR-412, the Defendant is charged with Attempted Murder in the First Degree/Principal in violation of Sections 922(a)(2), 331 & 11(a) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Assault in the First Degree/Principal in violation of Sections 295(1) & 11(a) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Assault in the Third Degree/Principal in violation of Sections 297(2) & 11(a) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Carrying or Using a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of a Crime of Violence/Principal in violation of Sections 2251(a)(2)(B) & 11(a) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Promotion of Dangerous Prison Contraband/Principal in violation of Sections 665(a)(2) & 11(a) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code and Brandishing, Exhibiting or Using a Deadly Weapon/Principal in violation of Sections 621(1) & 11(a) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code. Attorney Eric Chancellor Esq., represents the Defendant in SX-11-CR-412.

Finally, the Defendant is charged in People of the Virgin Islands v. Raphael Parrilla, SX-11-CR-449 with Escape from Jail or the Custody of An Officer, in violation of Section 661(1) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Aggravated Assault and Battery in violation of Section 298(1) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Assault in the Third Degree in violation of Sections 297(5) & 297(2) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code, Carrying or Using a Dangerous Weapon During the Commission of a Crime of Violence in violation of Section 2251(a)(2)(B) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code and Disturbance of the Peace by Threat in violation of Section 622(1) of Title Fourteen of the Virgin Islands Code. Attorney Kye Walker, Esq., represents the Defendant in SX-11-CR-449.

The Court scheduled SX-11-CR-449 for jury selection and trial on June 23, 2012. However, on that date, prior to jury selection, the Parties informed the Court that they had reached a plea agreement. Pursuant to this, the Court held the jury and allowed Parties to move forward with a plea hearing. However, during the plea hearing, Defendant appeared to become confused and subsequently, refused to accept the plea agreement. [151]*151As such, the Court ordered that jury selection and trial would go forward. The jury was selected for trial. Immediately following jury selection, Defendant suddenly indicated that he was now willing to accept the plea agreement proffered by the People. But once again, in the midst of the plea hearing, Defendant appeared to become confused and agitated and indicated that he was now refusing to accept the plea.

The Court found that given Defendant’s sudden refusal to accept the plea, the trial would go forward as scheduled. During trial proceedings, Attorney Walker informed the Court that she believed her client’s behavior during the selection process indicated that he was not presently able to understand the proceedings against him or assist in his own defense. Attorney Walker moved for a mistrial and requested a hearing on Defendant’s competency to stand trial. The People, represented by Attorney Cornelius Evans, Esq., did not object. After listening to Attorney Walker’s argument, the Court granted her motion for a mistrial and shortly afterward granted the motion for a competency hearing. The Court also ordered that the Defendant undergo psychiatric and psychological evaluations. The Court held a hearing on Defendant’s competency to stand trial on October 9, 2012. All Parties were present. Counsel for the People submitted two exhibits. The first exhibit was a psychological evaluation of the Defendant by psychologist Gloria Mendez. Dr. Mendez’s report stated that she felt the Defendant was competent to stand trial but could benefit from counseling. (Mendez, PE Rpt. People’s Ex. 1 at 4.) The second was a psychiatric evaluation of the Defendant by psychiatrist Norma Carillo (Carillo, PE Rpt. People’s Ex. 2 at 4.) At the hearing, the People called Dr. Carillo to testify. All Parties stipulated to Dr. Carillo as an expert in the field of psychiatry. Dr. Carillo gave sworn testimony on her observations of the Defendant and testified as her conclusions regarding the Defendant’s competency to stand trial. Dr. Carillo explained that she evaluated the Defendant to determine if he was competent enough to understand the proceedings against him and to assist in his own defense. Dr. Carillo also testified that her evaluation included a review of the Defendant’s mental health history, cognitive abilities and current mental state. Dr. Carillo concluded that while she could not conclusively testify as to a specific diagnosis of the Defendant, she felt that the Defendant likely suffered from mental retardation and dyslexia.

[152]*152Dr. Carillo also testified that she did not believe that the Defendant was competent to stand trial due to a severe deficit of comprehension and lack of education. Further, Dr. Carillo recommended that the Defendant be admitted to a mental health treatment facility until he was deemed competent to stand trial. Dr. Carillo could not provide to the Court an assessment of when Defendant might become competent. Next, Attorney Walker’s legal assistant, Donica Miller, offered testimony on the issue of Defendant’s mental state during jury selection. The Parties agreed that her testimony was admitted for the limited purpose of testifying as to Defendant’s unusual behavior during jury selection. Ms. Miller testified that the Defendant seemed confused about the trial process and unable to comprehend what role prospective jurors would play, despite repeated explanation by Attorney Walker.

After testimony, counsel for the People stated that the People were in agreement with the Defense that the Defendant suffers from some sort of mental disease or defect. However, counsel noted that despite the findings proffered, Dr. Carillo’s testimony provided no evidence of what specific mental defect or disease the Defendant suffered from or what course of treatment was needed. The People advised the Court that a treatment facility would be required to assess the Defendant’s mental health, determine a course of treatment and provide an evaluation as to when, if ever, the Defendant would be competent to stand trial. The Court, after reviewing the testimony of the witnesses and arguments of counsel, informed the Parties that it would take this matter under advisement and issue its ruling in writing.

II. Discussion

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Bluebook (online)
58 V.I. 148, 2013 V.I. LEXIS 30, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-parrilla-visuper-2013.