State v. Donyil L. Anderson, Sr.

2014 WI 93, 851 N.W.2d 760, 357 Wis. 2d 337, 2014 Wisc. LEXIS 680, 2014 WL 3731989
Wisconsin Supreme Court·Decided July 30, 2014·No. 2011AP001467-CR·Published·Cited by 19 cases

Opinions

MICHAEL J. GABLEMAN, J.

¶ 1. This is a review of an unpublished decision of the court of appeals1 reversing the judgment of the Rock County Circuit [339]*339Court2 convicting Donyil L. Anderson, Sr., of one count of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.

¶ 2. The question presented in this case is whether the circuit court erred in instructing the jury that "[a] temporary mental state which is brought into existence by the voluntary taking of drugs or alcohol does not constitute a mental defect." The State and Anderson both argue that this jury instruction was erroneous, but for different reasons. Anderson argues that the jury instruction was erroneous because it failed to distinguish between prescription medication and illegal drugs. As a result, the jury was prevented from considering whether his use of Strattera, a prescription medication used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, supported an insanity defense. The State's position is that the jury instruction was erroneous because Anderson's defense was premised on his reaction to the mixture of alcohol and Strattera. Therefore, the instruction used the wrong conjunction by referring to "drugs or alcohol," rather than "drugs and alcohol." However, the State argues that any error was harmless because as a matter of law, an insanity defense cannot be premised on a mental state arising from the voluntary use of drugs and alcohol.

¶ 3. We conclude that the circuit court's instruction to the jury was an accurate statement of the law. This court has never determined that consumption of prescription medication can give rise to a mental defect that would sustain an insanity defense. We decline to craft a new affirmative defense that would incorporate elements of the involuntary intoxication and insanity defenses simply because Anderson cannot meet the [340]*340requirements of the involuntary intoxication defense statute. Moreover, even if the circuit court had instructed the jury that the consumption of "drugs and alcohol" cannot create a mental defect, Anderson would fare no better, because it is established law that one who mixes prescription medication with alcohol is responsible for any resulting mental state. Accordingly, we reverse the decision of the court of appeals.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶ 4. This case centers around an incident that arose in the early morning hours of August 9, 2008, when the defendant, Donyil L. Anderson, Sr. ("Anderson"), arrived at a residence he had previously shared with his then-girlfriend, Stacey Hosey ("Hosey"), with whom he had a one-year-old son. Upon arriving, Anderson saw the car of Hosey's new boyfriend, Branden Beavers-Jackson ("Beavers-Jackson"). Anderson removed the car stereo from his own car and used it to smash the windows of Beavers-Jackson's car. Anderson then proceeded to kick in the back door of Hosey's home and enter the residence. A neighbor witnessed Anderson's entry and called the police.

¶ 5. Upon entering the residence, Anderson stabbed Hosey multiple times with various kitchen knives.3 Anderson also stabbed Beavers-Jackson five [341]*341times in the abdomen and hip. Shortly thereafter, as Officer Richard LeFeber ("Officer LeFeber") of the City of Beloit police department approached the scene, he saw Beavers-Jackson standing in his boxer shorts, covered in blood and waving frantically. Officer LeFeber also found Hosey leaning against a nearby garage door, while Anderson lay motionless in Hosey's driveway. Officer LeFeber called to Anderson, and Anderson stood up, held a four-inch kitchen knife above his head, and walked towards Officer LeFeber, asking to be killed. Officer LeFeber ordered Anderson to drop the knife, but Anderson continued to approach, and Officer LeFeber subdued him with a Taser.

¶ 6. At the hospital, Anderson admitted to police that he had a few beers before the incident but stated he was not intoxicated. Anderson also explained that he had been taking Strattera, a prescription medication used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder, for about two months, and it been making him "real edgy."4

¶ 7. Beavers-Jackson survived his injuries, but Hosey's wounds proved fatal. Anderson was charged with one count of First-Degree Intentional Homicide and one count of Attempted First-Degree Intentional Homicide in violation of Wis. Stat. §§ 940.01(l)(a) and 939.32 (2007-08).5

[342]*342¶ 8. At trial, the State presented its case-in-chief, and Anderson then entered an Alford plea on both counts.6 Anderson argued that he was not guilty by reason of insanity due to a mental disease or defect under Wis. Stat. § 971.15. During the insanity phase of the trial, Anderson called an expert witness, Dr. Hugh Johnston ("Dr. Johnston"). Dr. Johnston testified that he believed Anderson suffered a temporary mental defect at the time of the homicide that made him unable to control himself or conform his conduct to the requirements of the law. This condition, according to Dr. Johnston, was caused by a combination of four factors: (1) a lifelong impairment of the ability to exert self-control in emotionally provocative situations; (2) a major depressive disorder that was not appropriately treated; (3) the impact of Strattera on brain functioning; and (4) Anderson's ingestion of alcohol.7 Dr. Johnston explained that, while all of these factors simultaneously played a role in Anderson's behavior, he believed if Anderson had not been taking Strattera, it was "highly unlikely that Ms. Hosey would have been killed." In Dr. Johnston's opinion, Anderson's use of Strattera played "a very important role" in the incident.

[343]*343¶ 9. Dr. Johnston also described the half life of Strattera and explained that in most cases, a blood test administered twenty hours after consumption of Strattera would likely show no detectable traces of the medication. Dr. Johnston further concluded that Anderson's ability to distinguish right from wrong was not impaired by his "abnormal mental state" at the time of the homicide.

¶ 10. The State called its own expert witness during the trial, Dr. Christopher Tyre ("Dr. Tyre"). Dr. Tyre opined that Anderson had an antisocial personality disorder but did not suffer from a mental disease or defect due to a major depressive disorder or ingestion of alcohol and Strattera. Dr. Tyre concluded that at the time of the incident, Anderson was able to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law and appreciate the wrongfulness of his behavior.

¶ 11. The State also called a toxicologist who examined the blood test administered to Anderson when he was taken into custody. The toxicologist testified that the post-crime blood test administered to Anderson showed no detectable levels of Strattera in his blood.

¶ 12. In addition, the State presented evidence that shortly before Anderson's arrival at Hosey's residence, he had been arrested for striking someone in a bar. The arresting officer charged Anderson with battery but then released him because he did not appear to be intoxicated.

¶ 13.

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State v. Donyil L. Anderson, Sr., 2014 WI 93, 851 N.W.2d 760, 357 Wis. 2d 337, 2014 Wisc. LEXIS 680, 2014 WL 3731989 (Wis. 2014).

2014 WI 93 (State v. Donyil L. Anderson, Sr.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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