State v. Collatt

477 So. 2d 177
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 10, 1985
DocketCR85-146
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 477 So. 2d 177 (State v. Collatt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Collatt, 477 So. 2d 177 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

477 So.2d 177 (1985)

STATE of Louisiana, Appellee,
v.
Frank Curtis COLLATT, Appellant.

No. CR85-146.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

October 10, 1985.
Rehearing Denied November 4, 1985.

*179 Bertrand De Blanc, Sr., Darrell Hartman, Abbeville, for defendant-appellant.

Calvin Woodruff, Asst. Dist. Atty., Abbeville, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before DOMENGEAUX, FORET and YELVERTON, JJ.

FORET, Judge.

Defendant, Frank Curtis Collatt, was charged by bill of information with two counts of attempted second degree murder pursuant to LSA-R.S. 14:27 and 14:30.1. He pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to both charges and, on August 2 and 3 of 1984, was tried by jury. The jury found him guilty as charged on both counts of attempted second degree murder. Subsequently, the defendant was sentenced to fifty years imprisonment, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension, pursuant to LSA-C.Cr.P. Art. 893.1 and LSA-R.S. 14:95.2, plus two years because the offense was a felony committed with a dangerous weapon. On the other count, the defendant was sentenced to fifteen years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension, plus an additional two years pursuant to the above mentioned statutes. In all, sixty-nine years were to be served consecutively.

FACTS

The defendant, Frank Curtis Collatt, was employed by Intracoastal City Dry Dock & Shipbuilders from July until December of 1980.[1]

On the afternoon of January 28, 1983, the defendant was extremely upset and disturbed because of a belief that the lives of his family were in jeopardy as a result of his involvement with an alleged Faciane drug operation. A serious confrontation with his father and sister occurred that afternoon, during which he threatened the lives of his family, before handing a pistol to his father and begging his father to take his life. The defendant had been a mental patient since 1970.

Thereafter, the defendant armed himself with two .45 caliber pistols (an automatic and Colt revolver) and a twelve gauge automatic shotgun and drove a family car to the residence of William Faciane. As Faciane was standing under his carport, the defendant, sitting in his vehicle at a distance of approximately forty-five (45) to *180 fifty (50) feet, fired a pistol at the victim. The first two shots missed William Faciane, the third penetrated his chest cavity, causing severe injuries.

Immediately thereafter, the defendant drove to the home of Wayne Touchet. He entered the residence, gun in hand, walked up to his father, pointed the gun into his father's face, and stated that he had just shot one Faciane and was going to get another one.

The defendant then proceeded to the residence of Louis and Annette Faciane, where he attempted to abduct Mr. Faciane at gunpoint.[2] Mr. Faciane was able to elude him. At that time, Mrs. Faciane retreated to the bedroom to call the police, when the defendant fired three (3) more rounds from the .45 automatic through the bedroom window, narrowly missing her.

Approximately two hours later, defendant appeared at the home of Horace Needham, a local minister, and the police were called. As Deputy Thomas Vallot of the Sheriff's Department entered the Needham residence, the defendant was observed crying and distraught. The defendant stated that, "I'm Frank Collatt. I just shot Bill Faciane. Help me, I'm losing my mind." He further informed the deputy that his weapons were located in the automobile. A search of the car led to the discovery of two of the three weapons.[3]

The defendant was then turned over to the City Police and taken into custody, where he refused to answer any questions and demanded the presence of his attorney.

On February 1, 1983, the trial court raised the question of defendant's capacity to proceed, sua sponte, and appointed a Sanity Commission consisting of Dr. Ardley Hebert, M.D. (the coroner) and Thomas Latour, M.D., a psychiatrist, to examine the defendant. The February 4, 1983 report of Dr. Latour indicated that defendant was dangerous to himself and others and recommended involuntary commitment to a mental institution. Despite these findings, Dr. Latour found him capable of standing trial and assisting in his defense at that time.

On April 29, 1983, a hearing was held on the report of the Commission, and the court concluded, based upon the findings of both physicians, that the defendant possessed the requisite mental capacity to proceed. On May 18, 1983, counsel for defendant filed a motion for the appointment of a second Sanity Commission to determine the defendant's mental state at the time of the alleged offenses. The trial court granted the motion on July 23, 1983, and appointed Dr. Latour and Dr. Lou Fink, M.D. The reports filed were inconclusive.

At the hearing on the report of the second Sanity Commission on February 14, 1984, defense counsel moved for a third Commission. The trial judge denied this motion because the defendant was found capable to proceed with his trial based upon Dr. Latour's report of January 18, 1984.[4] Defendant then moved for the appointment of an independent expert.[5] The trial court agreed and suggested that defendant file a written motion requesting the appointment of an independent expert and that he consult the Indigent Defender Board. Defense counsel apparently abandoned this request because he did not pursue it.

*181 On July 31, 1984, the defendant again requested the appointment of an independent expert to examine him in regard to both his capacity to proceed and his mental state at the time of the offenses. The trial court refused, but granted the defendant a three-day continuance to secure any necessary expert assistance (at his own expense).

The trial commenced on August 2, 1984. On the morning of the second day of trial, while in the process of taking a shower, defendant used a double-edged plastic razor to inflict wounds just above his ankles. He was treated and returned to court. Upon his return, defense counsel moved for a continuance, urging that the circumstances rendered the defendant physically and mentally unable to assist in his defense. The trial court appointed Dr. Ardley Hebert and Dr. Thomas Latour to examine the defendant with regard to his present capacity to proceed.

Dr. Latour, in response to questions posed by the trial court, stated that:

"... it would be very, very difficult for him to rationally assist with his defense. [Tr. 324] What I'm saying is his condition right now, I feel is so volitile [sic] that it may fluctuate from minute to minute or hour to hour; and I really have no way of predicting how long he will stay calm, as he is right now. If he would, I would feel he could assist in his defense." [Tr. 326]

The court denied defendant's Motion for Continuance stating that:

"... the Court has observed the defendant and has listened to the testimony, and the expert testimony, and the expert testimony is to the effect that the doctor does not, in fact, know whether or not he can assist in his defense. And from the Court's own observation, even during the argument of this motion, the defendant appears to be assisting in his defense by speaking to his attorney, and has done so since this trial began.
"Those factors, taken together with the other factors brought out by the testimony of the officers, convinced the Court that he does have the mental capacity to proceed, and we will proceed."

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Bluebook (online)
477 So. 2d 177, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-collatt-lactapp-1985.