State Of Washington v. William Carney

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedDecember 16, 2013
Docket68168-1
StatusPublished

This text of State Of Washington v. William Carney (State Of Washington v. William Carney) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Of Washington v. William Carney, (Wash. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

STATE OF WASHINGTON, No. 68168-1-1

Respondent, DIVISION ONE

v. PUBLISHED OPINION WILLIAM HALL CARNEY,

Appellant. FILED: December 16, 2013

Schindler, J. — William Hall Carney contends that under State v. Jones, 99

Wn.2d 735, 664 P.2d 1216 (1983), he is entitled to dismissal of the 1982 conviction of

arson in the first degree, the acquittal by reason of insanity and order of civil commitment, and the 2011 order revoking his conditional release. Because Jones does

not apply retroactively, we affirm the decision to dismiss Carney's collateral attack of the 1982 conviction and order of commitment, and the 2011 order revoking his conditional

release.

FACTS

On March 31, 1982, police responded to a report of a disturbance at the

apartment ofWilliam Hall Carney. Carney had barricaded himself inside and was fanning the flames of a fire in the apartment. Fire investigators concluded the fire was deliberately set by using a match to ignite combustible material in the apartment. No. 68168-1-1/2

On April 1, 1982, the State charged Carney with arson in the first degree. On

April 5, the court entered a 15-day order of commitment to the Department of Social and

Health Services (DSHS) at Western State Hospital (WSH) to evaluate Carney and

determine whether he was competent to stand trial. On April 23, a WSH psychologist

reported Carney was "psychotic," "responding to auditory hallucinations," and not

competent to stand trial. The court granted the request for a 90-day extension of the

commitment.

On May 19, the WSH psychiatrist filed a report with the court stating that Carney

had "slowly improved" with treatment and was competent to stand trial. The psychiatrist

states Carney's paranoid schizophrenia is "now in fair remission."

[W]ith treatment Mr. Carney's condition has slowly improved and he is now more cooperative, coherent and rational. He has a lengthy history of psychiatric treatment at numerous mental facilities. Our diagnostic impression continues to be Schizophrenia, chronic, paranoid type now in fair remission. It is our opinion that Mr. Carney has regained competency to stand trial. He now fully understands the nature of the proceedings against him and is able to assist his attorney in preparing a defense.

On June 4, the court found Carney competent to stand trial. Following

arraignment on the charge of arson in the first degree, Carney entered a plea of not

guilty.

At the beginning of the jury trial on July 2, the State asked the court to enter a

plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on behalf of Carney. Carney did not object. The

court granted the motion. No. 68168-1-1/3

The State called a number of witnesses to testify at trial, including police officers

and two psychiatrists. At the conclusion of the State's case, the defense moved to

withdraw the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The court denied the motion.

Carney testified in his defense.

In answer to a special verdict form, the jury found Carney committed the crime of

arson in the first degree but found him "not guilty because of insanity existing at the time

of the act charged." The jury also found Carney was "a substantial danger to other

persons" and "presented] a substantial likelihood of committing felonious acts

jeopardizing public safety or security unless kept under further control by the court or

other persons or institutions."

At the sentencing on July 9, the court entered an order of acquittal by reason of

insanity and an order of commitment. The findings state that when Carney committed

the crime of arson in the first degree, he "was affected by mental disease or defect to

such an extent that he was unable to perceive the nature and quality of the act with

which he is charged and unable to tell right from wrong." The findings also state that

Carney "is a substantial danger to other persons" and presented a substantial likelihood

of committing acts jeopardizing public safety. The order of commitment remands

Carney "to the custody of [DSHS] for hospitalization at such place as shall be

designated for the care and treatment of the criminally insane."

The court advised Carney that he had the right to appeal the order of acquittal by

reason of insanity and order of commitment. Carney signed and acknowledged receipt

of the "Certificate of Compliance with Rule 7.1 (b) CrR Rule for Superior Court." The

certificate states that unless a written notice of appeal is filed within 30 days of entry of No. 68168-1-1/4

the order of acquittal and commitment, "the right of appeal is irrevocably waived."

Carney did not file an appeal.

On November 17, 1987, the court entered an order of conditional release of

Carney to the community. His conditional release was subject to a number of

conditions. While on conditional release, Carney was hospitalized a number of times

"for inpatient treatment following episodes of psychiatric decompensation."1 In June 2005, Carney was hospitalized again after he "stopped taking his

medication and his behavior deteriorated rapidly." Following inpatient treatment, WSH

discharged Carney on September 11, 2007 to the Maple Creek Residential Facility.

The court entered an order modifying the conditions of release. The order required

Carney to follow the treatment plan, attend therapy sessions, remain in remission, and

maintain good conduct in the community.

In March 2011, WSH submitted a report to the court addressing adherence to the

terms and conditions of conditional release. The report states that the Maple Creek

Residential Facility continued to provide the necessary level of care and Carney

appeared to be "at his baseline level of stability." However, the report also describes

concerns expressed by Maple Creek Residential Facility staff about Carney's behavior

and hygiene. According to staff, Carney believed his food was being poisoned, and

insisted on "taking many books, papers and reading materials with him wherever he

goes, fearing 'they will be stolen' if left in his room."

1"Decompensation" means "loss of adequate functional power." Webster's Third New International Dictionary 587 (2002). No. 68168-1-1/5

On June 3, 2011, the Secret Service investigated telephone calls Carney made

from the Maple Creek Residential Facility to the White House. Carney made six

telephone calls to the White House to schedule a meeting with the President of the

United States. When White House staff refused to schedule a meeting, Carney said

that he was putting the staff person on his "list."

On June 15, the Maple Creek Residential Facility provided a 30-day eviction

notice to Carney and DSHS. On July 11, Carney met with his community program

therapist and the community program director. Carney "presented as disheveled, poor

hygiene, food and stains on his clothes, odor coming from his body, and his hair was

not groomed." Carney insisted he "does not have to move out of his current residence

although an eviction notice was given to him . . ., and believes that the director of his

current residence is against him." In the report to the court, the therapist and the

community program manager state that Carney was "showing signs of decompensation"

and "appears to have difficulty holding a reality-based conversation at this time."

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