People v. Thomas

260 Cal. App. 2d 196, 67 Cal. Rptr. 234, 1968 Cal. App. LEXIS 1842
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 18, 1968
DocketCrim. No. 2904
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 260 Cal. App. 2d 196 (People v. Thomas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Thomas, 260 Cal. App. 2d 196, 67 Cal. Rptr. 234, 1968 Cal. App. LEXIS 1842 (Cal. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

WHELAN, J.

—Defendant appeals from an order made April 18, 1967, recommitting him, after a trial under section 5519, Welfare and Institutions Code, as a mentally disordered sex offender not amenable to hospital treatment who is still a danger to the health and safety of others.

On September 21, 1960, defendant was found guilty by a jury of three violations of section 288, Penal Code, involving three different children.

On the same date, he was certified for examination for determination of the question whether he was a sexual psychopath; the order of certification appointed two psychiatrists to examine defendant and fixed October 11, 1960 for the hearing of the matter.

On October 11, 1960, an order was made finding defendant to be a sexual psychopath and committing him to the Atascadero State Hospital for 90 days for observation and diagnosis.

[198]*198The transcript of the oral proceedings on October 11, 1960 shows that the two psychiatrists were sworn but did not testify. The record of the entire hearing is as follows:

“The Court Clerk: You do solemnly swear that the evidence you shall give in the matters now pending before this Court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God ?
“Dr. C. E. Lengyel: I do.
“Dr. W. G. Wieand : I do.
“Dr. G. C. Aden: I do.
“Dr. J. B. Wong : I do.
“(Cases No. land 2.)
" The Bailiff : John B,. Thomas.
" The Court : Good morning, Ed.
“Mr. Langford : Good morning.
“The Court: From the report, our doctors indicate that Mr. Thomas should be hospitalized at Atascadero for the ninety-day observation period.
“Mr. Langford : (Nodding in the affirmative.)
“The Court: So, such being the recommendation of the doctors, I think it is advisable, and I agree with them.
“Mr. Langford : All right, sir.
“The Court: He will be transported tomorrow. He will remain here at the hospital until transported by the Sheriff’s office. And, here is a copy of the order for your information (handing).”

On November 28, 1960, the superintendent of the state hospital issued his certificate that defendant could benefit by treatment in a state hospital. On the basis of that certificate an order was made on December 5, 1960, committing defendant for placement in the state hospital for an indeterminate period, which order was served on defendant on December 9, 1960, defendant acknowledging receipt in writing.

On January 3, 1963, the superintendent of the state hospital reported that defendant had made no progress, was not amenable to hospital treatment, and remained a menace to society.

On January 18, 1963, defendant appeared before the civil side of the trial court, where an order was made that defendant be returned to the criminal department for further proceedings on the criminal charges.

On January 24, 1963, defendant, with counsel, appeared in the criminal department, where the judge, after reading certain reports, stated he recertified defendant for a determina[199]*199tion under section 5518, Welfare and Institutions Code. Without further hearing the judge then made an order committing defendant to the Department of Mental Hygiene for placement for an indeterminate period under section 5518, Welfare and Institutions Code.

Defendant having requested a hearing under section 5519, Welfare and Institutions Code, an order was made on March 1,1967 that he be returned for further proceedings under that section, resulting in the order from which this appeal was taken after a hearing in which a clinical psychologist and three medical doctors, qualified in the field of psychiatry, testified, one as defendant’s witness.

Contentions on Appeal

Defendant makes the following claims:

1. Noncompliance with statutory requirements in the original commitment are jurisdictional in nature and should be considered in this appeal.
2. Noncompliance with due process requirements in the original commitment are jurisdictional in nature and should be considered in this appeal.
3. Determination that appellant is nonamenable to treatment requires that he be returned to the court for sentence on the criminal charge, where that charge carries a sentence of one year to life.
4. Incarceration in a place other than a hospital or other treatment facility under a civil commitment without sentence on a criminal charge is cruel and inhuman punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

The clerk’s transcript does not disclose all the procedural steps that we have listed, which are discoverable from the superior court file in the office of the clerk of that court.

The Obiginal Commitment fob a 90-Day Pebiod op Obsebvation and Diagnosis

A fatal flaw appears in the hearing of October 11, 1960, as the rules governing such hearing have been interpreted in recent rulings. (People v. Succop, 67 Cal.2d 785 [63 Cal.Rptr. 569, 433 P.2d 473]; People v. McDonald 257 Cal.App.2d 846 [65 Cal.Rptr. 530]; People v. Berry, 257 Cal.App.2d 731 [65 Cal.Rptr. 125]; In re Kramer, 257 Cal. App.2d 287 [64 Cal.Rptr. 686]; People v. Harvath, 251 Cal. App.2d 780 [60 Cal.Rptr. 15]; People v. Loignon, 250 Cal. App.2d 386 [58 Cal.Rptr. 866].)

[200]*200. The proceedings of January 24, 1963, when an order was first made committing defendant to the Department of Mental Hygiene for placement with the Director of Corrections, likewise were deficient. The order of commitment was not made after a hearing following the recertification by the criminal department; such hearing is required by section 5518, Welfare and Institutions Code. It is logical that it should be so. The recertification may be made only if the judge in the criminal department is satisfied that “the person has not recovered from his mental disorder and is still a danger to the health and safety of others.” The mental satisfaction that permits recertification does not, in the absence of express stipulation, take the place of a hearing as the basis for the finding that permits commitment under section 5518.

In an elaborate consideration of the question, the court, in People v. Bennett, 245 Cal.App.2d 10 [53 Cal.Rptr. 579], concluded that the hearing called for in section 5518 did not require the appointment of psychiatrists, as under section 5519. However, some opportunity to call witnesses and make possible preparation for a hearing should be allowed following the recertification by the criminal court. Obviously, until that court has decided to make a recertification under section 5518, the defendant cannot know whether he should prepare for the hearing under that section.

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Related

People v. Henderson
107 Cal. App. 3d 475 (California Court of Appeal, 1980)
In Re Acosta
21 Cal. App. 3d 51 (California Court of Appeal, 1971)
People v. Maugh
1 Cal. App. 3d 856 (California Court of Appeal, 1969)
People v. Vaughn
262 Cal. App. 2d 42 (California Court of Appeal, 1968)
People v. Thomas
260 Cal. App. 2d 196 (California Court of Appeal, 1968)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
260 Cal. App. 2d 196, 67 Cal. Rptr. 234, 1968 Cal. App. LEXIS 1842, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-thomas-calctapp-1968.