Filed 11/23/16

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

BRETT HAVEN THIEL,

Defendant and Appellant.

 D069111

 (Super. Ct. No. SCE350545)

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Evan P. 

Kirvin, Judge. Affirmed.

Kevin Smith, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and 

Appellant. 

Kamala D. Harris, Attorney General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney 

General, Julie L. Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Barry Carlton and Christopher P. 

Beesley, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent. 
2

A jury convicted defendant and appellant Brett Haven Thiel of elder abuse with 

force likely to cause great bodily harm or death (Pen. Code,1 § 368, subd. (b)(1); count 

1); elder abuse (§ 368, subd. (c); count 2); witness intimidation (§ 136.1, subd. (b)(1); 

count 3); and resisting an officer (§ 69; count 4). The jury also found true the allegation 

that defendant, in the commission of count 1, did personally inflict great bodily injury on 

a person 70 years of age or older (§ 12022.7, subd. (c)). The court sentenced defendant 

to three years' probation, which included one year in a residential mental health facility.

On appeal, defendant contends the court improperly instructed the jury concerning 

the extent to which it could consider evidence of mental incapacity in determining 

whether he harbored the requisite criminal intent to be convicted of elder abuse in counts 

1 and 2. Defendant further contends defense counsel was ineffective by not requesting an 

instruction that defendant's alleged mental incapacity could negate the requisite intent he 

contends was required to support such convictions. Affirmed.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Joan Thiel (Joan) testified she and her sister, Joyce Boutte (Joyce), were watching 

television together at Joyce's house in the early evening of May 8, 2015. Joan, then aged 

79, is defendant's mother and Joyce, then aged 91, is defendant's aunt. About 7:00 or 

8:00 p.m., the two women heard a "loud banging" on the front door, which Joan testified 

was "unusual" at Joyce's house. When Joan asked "who was there," she received no 

 

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.
3

response. However, she saw defendant's car through the window. They had not expected 

to see defendant that day.

Joan testified her son suffers from mental illness. After the front door was opened, 

Joan immediately could tell defendant was "very manic" and "very angry" as he "barged"

through the door. After he came inside, defendant walked over to a boyhood picture of 

Joan's father (defendant's grandfather) hanging on the wall. Although defendant in the 

past had "reacted" to this picture, according to Joan that reaction had not been "drastic."

However, on this occasion defendant took the picture off the wall and came toward the 

two women, who were both sitting in chairs. Defendant threw the picture on the floor 

and stomped on it, breaking the picture. Defendant's behavior surprised Joan. 

Joan testified defendant next went to Joyce, forcefully grabbed her by both wrists 

and "pulled her from the chair, just slid her down, and she started screaming [and] getting 

upset." When Joan tried about three times to help her sister, each time defendant grabbed 

Joan from the back of her shoulders, "drag[ged]" her back to the chair and "thr[e]w" her 

in the chair. Joan further testified that defendant also put Joyce back in Joyce's chair 

about the same number of times when Joyce tried to help her; that when doing so,

defendant "kind of fold[ed Joyce] up"; that he was a "little rough" and "forceful" with 

Joyce when putting her back in the chair; and that he kept going back and forth, forcing 

the women back in their chairs so they were unable to call police. During the incident, 

Joan pleaded with defendant to stop, as did Joyce, who Joan described as "hysterical."
4

Joan testified she located the phone and called 911. Defendant in response 

grabbed the phone out of her hand and exclaimed he was leaving. As he walked out the 

front door, police arrived. 

Joyce also testified at trial. When defendant came inside her house, he 

immediately went over to the picture of her father's brother (i.e., Joyce's uncle). Joyce 

was "shocked" at defendant's behavior, as he was "[j]ust ranting." According to Joyce, 

after defendant finished "tossing [them] around," he said in reference to the picture, 

" 'Now you know . . . that he [i.e., Joyce's uncle/defendant's grandfather] raped my 

mother, don't you?' " 

Joyce testified that in one instance when defendant pushed her, she fell on one 

knee to the floor. As defendant pulled her up off the floor, he broke her wrist and "tore 

the skin on [her] arms," which caused scarring. Joyce also sustained an injury to her 

knee. 

According to Joyce, as each sister tried to help the other defendant would push 

them back into their chairs. Joyce estimated this occurred about six times. As this was 

occurring, both women were "yelling" for "help." At some point, Joan grabbed the 

telephone to call the police. Joyce heard defendant say in response, " 'Don't you dare call 

the police,' " and then saw him quickly grab the phone from Joan. As defendant left, he 

threw the telephone into the back of Joan's car. 

La Mesa Police Officer Colin Atwood testified he responded to the 911 call at 

Joyce's house. Because dispatch heard screaming and yelling before the phone line went 
5

dead, police initially thought it was a domestic violence incident. As such, Officer 

Atwood parked a short distance from Joyce's house and then stood on the sidewalk 

outside Joyce's house as he waited for backup. As he waited, Officer Atwood saw a man 

later identified as defendant exit the house and walk quickly toward the street. 

On contact, defendant sat on the curb at the request of Officer Atwood. A few 

seconds later, as Officer Atwood attempted to ascertain what was happening, defendant 

"just suddenly stood up." Although defendant followed Officer Atwood's direction to sit 

back down, Officer Atwood testified that about 10 or 15 seconds later, defendant again 

stood up but this time walked away from the officer. 

Because Officer Atwood was still waiting for backup and because he had been 

unable to determine what was happening inside the house, Officer Atwood grabbed 

defendant's arm and told defendant he was detained. Defendant in response "spun 

around" and "began violently pulling his hands" away, trying to break Officer Atwood's 

grip in an effort to free himself. Officer Atwood estimated this went on for about 30 

seconds. During this time period, Officer Atwood repeatedly told defendant to " '[s]top 

resisting' " and to "[p]ut [his] hands behind [his] back."

Finally, defendant broke free and ran into the street. When Officer Atwood caught 

up with defendant, he again grabbed defendant and this time told defendant he was 

"under arrest." Once again, defendant struggled with Officer Atwood in an effort to 

break away. Officer Atwood estimated this struggle in the street went on for about 30 

more seconds.
6

During the struggle, defendant freed himself and ran about 30 or 40 yards down a 

side street, around a parked car, and then headed back in the direction of Joyce's house

with Officer Atwood in pursuit. Once back inside, defendant sat in a chair and "put his 

hand down behind the chair where [the officer] could not see [it]." Concerned, Officer 

Atwood testified he "dove" straight at defendant and "pin[ned] him up against the wall." 

Officer Atwood saw defendant had nothing in the hand defendant had been hiding. 

Backup arrived, and the officers eventually subdued defendant and arrested him.

DISCUSSION

A. Additional Background

As relevant to counts 1 and 2, the trial court instructed the jury with modified 

CALCRIM No. 252 in part as follows:

"The crimes and allegations charged require proof of the union, or joint operation, 

of act and wrongful intent.

"The following crimes and allegation[s] require general criminal intent: Abuse of 

Elder Likely to Produce Great Bodily Harm or Death, as charged in Count 1; Personal 

Infliction of Great Bodily Injury as alleged in Count 1; and Abuse of Elder as charged in 

Count 2. For you to find a person guilty of these crimes or to find the allegation true, that 

person must not only commit the prohibited act, but must do so with wrongful intent. A 

person acts with wrongful intent when he or she intentionally does a prohibited act;

however, it is not required that he or she intend to break the law. The act required is 

explained in the instruction for that crime or allegation." 
7

The court also instructed the jury as follows with modified CALCRIM No. 830, 

elder abuse likely to produce great bodily harm or death:

"The defendant is charged in Count One with elder abuse likely to produce great 

bodily harm or death in violation of Penal Code section 368(b)(1). [¶] To prove that the 

defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that: [¶] 1. The defendant 

willfully inflicted unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on JOYCE BOUTTE; 

[¶] 2. The defendant inflicted suffering on JOYCE BOUTTE under circumstances or 

conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death; [¶] 3. JOYCE BOUTTE is an 

elder; [¶] AND [¶] 4. When the defendant acted, he knew or reasonably should have 

known that JOYCE BOUTTE was an elder. 

"Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose.

[¶] Great bodily injury means significant or substantial physical injury. It is an injury 

that is greater than minor or moderate harm. [¶] An elder is someone who is at least 65 

years old. [¶] Unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering is pain or suffering that is 

not reasonably necessary or is excessive under the circumstances. [¶] An elder does not 

need to actually suffer great bodily harm. But if an elder does suffer great bodily harm, 

you may consider that fact, along with all the other evidence, in deciding whether the 

defendant committed the offense."

As further relevant to this analysis, the court also gave the jury modified 

CALCRIM No. 831, elder abuse absent conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or 

death: 
8

"The defendant is charged in Count 2 with Elder Abuse in violation of Penal Code 

section 368(c). Elder Abuse in violation of Penal Code section 368(c) is also a lesser 

included offense to the greater crime of Elder Abuse Likely to Produce Great Bodily 

Harm or Death in violation of Penal Code section 368(b)(1), as charged in Count 1. 

"To prove that the defendant is guilty of this crime, the People must prove that:

1. The defendant willfully inflicted unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on 

JOAN THIEL; [¶] 2. JOAN THIEL is an elder; [¶] AND [¶] 3. When the defendant acted, 

he knew or reasonably should have known that JOAN THIEL was an elder.

"Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose.

[¶] An elder is someone who is at least 65 years old. [¶] Unjustifiable physical pain or 

mental suffering is pain or suffering that is not reasonably necessary or is excessive under 

the circumstances."

Finally, the court gave the jury modified CALCRIM No. 3428, which provides in 

part:

"You have heard evidence that the defendant may have suffered from a mental 

disease, defect, or disorder. You may consider this evidence only for the limited purpose 

of deciding whether, at the time of the charged crime, the defendant acted with the intent 

or mental state required for that crime.

"The People have the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the 

defendant acted with the required intent or mental state, specifically: knowledge that 

JOYCE BOUTTE was an elder. If the People have not met this burden, you must find 
9

the defendant not guilty of elder abuse likely to produce great bodily harm or death, as 

charged in Count 1."2

B. Guiding Principles

"The law imposes on a trial court the sua sponte duty to properly instruct the jury 

on the relevant law and, as such, requires the giving of a correct instruction regarding the 

intent necessary to commit the offense and the union between that intent and the 

defendant's act or conduct." (People v. Alvarado (2005) 125 Cal.App.4th 1179, 1185

(Alvarado).) We review de novo a trial court's instruction on intent and/or mental state. 

(People v. Alvarez (1996) 14 Cal.4th 155, 219–220.)

" 'Specific and general intent have been notoriously difficult terms to define and 

apply . . . .' (People v. Hood (1969) 1 Cal.3d 444, 456 [(Hood)].) However, some 

principles are settled: 'When the definition of a crime consists of only the description of a 

particular act, without reference to intent to do a further act or achieve a future 

consequence, we ask whether the defendant intended to do the proscribed act. This 

intention is deemed to be a general criminal intent. When the definition refers to 

defendant's intent to do some further act or achieve some additional consequence, the 

crime is deemed to be one of specific intent.' (Id. at pp. 456–457.)" (Alvarado, supra, 

125 Cal.App.4th at p. 1186.) "General criminal intent thus requires no further mental 

state beyond willing commission of the act proscribed by law." (People v. Sargent 

(1999) 19 Cal.4th 1206, 1214-1215 (Sargent).)

 

2 The record shows the court repeated CALCRIM No. 3428 without the "great 

bodily harm or death" language when instructing the jury on count 2, involving Joan. 
10

"In other words, if the end in view is simply a proscribed act, the intent required is 

only a general one because no further acts or future consequences are envisioned from the 

illegal act. [Citations.] Conversely, when the end in view looks to a further consequence 

of the act, the intent is specific. [Citations.] Specific intent crimes typically contain such 

phrases as ' "with the intent to" ' achieve or ' "for the purpose of" ' achieving some 

additional result. (People v. Atkins (2001) 25 Cal.4th 76, 86 (Atkins).)" (Alvarado, 

supra, 125 Cal.App.4th at p. 1186.)

"[T]he distinction between general intent and specific intent crimes is at bottom 

founded upon a policy decision regarding the availability of certain defenses." (People v. 

Gutierrez (1986) 180 Cal.App.3d 1076, 1081 (Gutierrez).) As a defense, "[m]ental 

illness poses a policy dilemma similar in many respects to that of [the defense of]

voluntary intoxication. (See People v. Wells (1949) 33 Cal.2d 330, 357.) A defendant 

who pleads and proves insanity is totally absolved of criminal responsibility although 

subject to civil confinement. If the defendant chooses not to enter an insanity plea, or if 

the evidence is not sufficient to establish insanity, then sympathy toward the mentally ill 

defendant must be balanced against the considerations that such a person, being either 

legally sane or having voluntarily relinquished an insanity defense, may not be entirely 

blameless and may present a continuing public danger. Accordingly, the rule has 

developed that evidence of mental illness may be offered to show the absence of specific 

intent but not to prove the absence of general intent. (People v. Drew (1978) 22 Cal.3d 

333, 344; People v. Gauze (1975) 15 Cal.3d 709, 719; People v. Noah (1971) 5 Cal.3d 
11

469, 477–478 [other citations omitted].)" (Gutierrez, at p. 1082, italics added; see § 28, 

subd. (a) [providing in part that "[e]vidence of mental disease, mental defect, or mental 

disorder is admissible solely on the issue of whether or not the accused actually formed a 

required specific intent, premeditated, deliberated, or harbored malice aforethought, when 

a specific intent crime is charged" (italics added)].)

Although defendant recognizes that the offense of elder abuse under section 368 is 

typically classified as a general intent crime, he nonetheless contends the court erred 

when it failed to include in CALCRIM No. 3428 an instruction that his alleged mental 

incapacity could negate the element of "willfulness" or the term "willfully," as used in 

subdivisions (b)(1) and (c) of section 368. 

According to defendant, willfulness or the term "willfully" imposed a knowledge 

requirement, such that these subdivisions should be read to provide that, when a 

defendant willfully inflicts "unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering," the 

defendant did so "for the purpose of bringing about . . . such a result," or words to that 

effect. (Italics omitted.) Defendant thus contends proof of specific intent was required 

for conviction in counts 1 and 2, which intent, in turn, could be negated by mental 

incapacity. (See Gutierrez, supra, 180 Cal.App.3d at p. 1082; see also § 28, subd. (a).)

To resolve this issue, we turn to the language of the statute. (See People v. Hering

(1999) 20 Cal.4th 440, 445 [noting whether an offense requires proof of general or 

specific criminal intent "begin[s] with an examination of the statutory language 

describing the proscribed conduct, including any express or implied reference to a mental 
12

state"].) In interpreting a statute, " 'our fundamental task . . . is to determine the 

Legislature's intent so as to effectuate the law's purpose.' [Citation.] 'We begin with the 

plain language of the statute, affording the words of the provision their ordinary and 

usual meaning and viewing them in their statutory context, because the language 

employed in the Legislature's enactment generally is the most reliable indicator of 

legislative intent.' [Citations.] The plain meaning controls if there is no ambiguity in the 

statutory language." (People v. Cornett (2012) 53 Cal.4th 1261, 1265 (Cornett).)

C. Section 368 and the Requisite Criminal Intent

At the time defendant committed the offense in 2015, former section 3683

provided in relevant part: 

"(a) The Legislature finds and declares that crimes against elders and dependent 

adults are deserving of special consideration and protection, not unlike the special 

protections provided for minor children, because elders and dependent adults may be . . . 

less able to protect themselves, to understand or report criminal conduct, or to testify in 

court proceedings on their own behalf.

"(b)(1) Any person who knows or reasonably should know that a person is an 

elder or dependent adult and who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce 

great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any elder or dependent adult to 

suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the 

 

3 Section 368 was amended without substantive change effective January 1, 2016 to 

include subdivision (l), giving a court the discretion to issue an order restraining a 

defendant convicted under certain subdivisions of the statute for up to 10 years. (Stats. 

2015, ch. 279 (S.B.352), § 2 eff. Jan 1, 2016.) 
13

care or custody of any elder or dependent adult, willfully causes or permits the person or 

health of the elder or dependent adult to be injured, or willfully causes or permits the 

elder or dependent adult to be placed in a situation in which his or her position or health 

is endangered, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or 

by a fine not to exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000), or by both that fine and 

imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three, or four years.

"(2) If in the commission of an offense described in paragraph (1), the victim 

suffers great bodily injury, as defined in Section 12022.7, the defendant shall receive an 

additional term in the state prison as follows: [¶] . . . [¶] (B) Five years if the victim is 70 

years of age or older. [¶] . . . [¶]

"(c) Any person who knows or reasonably should know that a person is an elder or 

dependent adult and who, under circumstances or conditions other than those likely to 

produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any elder or dependent 

adult to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or 

having the care or custody of any elder or dependent adult, willfully causes or permits the 

person or health of the elder or dependent adult to be injured or willfully causes or 

permits the elder or dependent adult to be placed in a situation in which his or her person

or health may be endangered, is guilty of a misdemeanor. A second or subsequent 

violation of this subdivision is punishable by a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars 

($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by both that fine 

and imprisonment."
14

Our high court's decision in Sargent provides guidance on the instant issue. There, 

the court interpreted former section 273a, a child endangerment statute, in analyzing the 

mens rea requirement for a conviction of felony child abuse "based on direct infliction of 

unjustifiable pain and mental suffering." (Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1209.) 

Significant to the instant case, in interpreting former section 273a the court relied in part 

on former section 368, noting that the two statutes were "virtually identical" (Sargent, at 

p. 1216), that "[s]ection 368 was patterned on . . . section 273a" (ibid., fn. 6) and that 

"[c]ases interpreting one section [were] therefore appropriately used to interpret the 

other" (ibid.).

Like section 368 at issue in the instant case, the Sargent court noted former section 

273a, subdivision (a)(1) proscribed "essentially four branches of conduct. At the time of 

defendant's crimes, and in substantively identical form currently, it provided: 'Any person 

who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, [1] 

willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or [2] inflicts thereon unjustifiable 

physical pain or mental suffering, or [3] having the care or custody of any child, willfully 

causes or permits the person or health of such child to be injured, or [4] willfully causes 

or permits such child to be placed in such situation that its person or health is endangered, 

is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or in the state 

prison for 2, 4, or 6 years.' " (Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1215.)

The Sargent court observed that "violation of section 273a(1) [now subdivision 

(a)(1)] 'can occur in a wide variety of situations: the definition broadly includes both 
15

active and passive conduct, i.e., child abuse by direct assault and child endangering by 

extreme neglect' "; and that " '[t]wo threshold considerations . . . govern all types of 

conduct prohibited by this law: first, the conduct must be willful; second, it must be 

committed "under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or 

death." [Citation.] Absent either of these elements, there can be no violation of the 

statute.' " (Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 1215-1216.)

In analyzing "branch" No. 2, which the Sargent court noted was the only conduct 

at issue before it, the court concluded "[t]he language 'inflicts [on a child] unjustifiable 

physical pain or mental suffering' " was "most readily interpreted as requiring general 

criminal intent. That is, the statute describes 'a particular act, without reference to intent 

to do a further act or achieve a future consequence.' (People v. Hood, supra, 1 Cal.3d at 

pp. 456-457.)" (Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1219.) As such, the court concluded that 

criminal negligence was not an element of the offense and that a defendant instead "must 

have a mens rea of general criminal intent to commit the proscribed act." (Id. at p. 1224.) 

In response to the defendant's contention that proof of criminal negligence was 

required to establish the element of " 'under circumstances or conditions likely to produce 

great bodily harm or death,' " the Sargent court found "no basis for concluding that the 

appropriate mens rea for direct infliction of unjustifiable physical pain or mental 

suffering is contained" in the conditions or circumstances element of the offense. 

(Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1221.) The Sargent court noted that section 273a did 

not, for example, "provide that a defendant must 'know or reasonably should know that 
16

his or her actions occur under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily 

harm or death.' Rather, the statute proscribes the infliction of unjustifiable physical pain 

or mental suffering on a child. Whether that infliction is 'under circumstances or 

conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death' is a question for the trier of 

fact. . . .

"In this manner, section 273a(1) is similar to that portion of section 245, 

subdivision (a)(1), which proscribes 'assault . . . by any means of force likely to produce 

great bodily injury.' Numerous cases have held that whether the force used by the 

defendant was likely to produce great bodily injury is a question for the trier of fact to 

decide. [Citations.] Moreover, similar language in other penal statutes has not precluded 

them from being interpreted as general criminal intent statutes. (See People v. Carter

(1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 752, 755-756 [Section 12022.7, subdivision (d), which provides, 

'Any person who personally inflicts great bodily injury under circumstances involving 

domestic violence in the commission or attempted commission of a felony,' is a general 

intent statute.]; People v. Gonzales (1994) 29 Cal.App.4th 1684, 1691, 1695, 1698, called 

into doubt on other grounds in People v. Reed (1996) 13 Cal.4th 217, 229 [Section 

1192.7, subdivision (c)(8), which deems 'serious' 'any other felony in which the defendant 

personally inflicts great bodily injury on any person, other than an accomplice,' is a 

general intent statute.].)" (Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at pp. 1221-1222.)
17

D. Analysis

Here, applying the principles articulated in Sargent, which interpreted the exact 

language—albeit in a related statute—at issue in the instant case, we conclude that when 

the conduct proscribed involves the direct infliction of unjustifiable physical pain or 

mental suffering on an elder or dependent adult (i.e., branch No. 2), as set forth in 

subdivisions (b)(1) and (c) of former section 368, a defendant must have a mens rea of 

general criminal intent because branch No. 2 describes " 'a particular act, without 

reference to intent to do a further act or achieve a future consequence.' " (See Sargent, 

supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 1219, quoting Hood, supra, 1 Cal.3d at pp. 456-457.) 

Further, like our high court in Sargent, we do not interpret the language "under 

circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death" in subdivisions 

(b)(1) and (c) of former section 368 to require any additional proof of intent, nor does 

defendant argue as such. Rather, following Sargent, we conclude this language merely 

"states the context in which the subdivision applies" (see Sargent, supra, 19 Cal.4th at 

p. 1223) and is a question of fact for the jury (see id. at pp. 1221-1222). 

Defendant attempts to distinguish Sargent by arguing our high court in that case 

did not address the "mental elements of knowledge or willfulness" and, thus, "expressed 

no view on whether the mental incapacity defense might apply." However, this argument 

misses the point; while it is true the defense of mental incapacity was not at issue in 

Sargent, what was at issue was the mens rea required to prove branch No. 2—the same 

proscribed conduct at issue in our case involving elder, as opposed to child, abuse. 
18

Interpreting the identical language at issue in our case, as noted, the Sargent court found 

that only general criminal intent was required to prove this offense. 

Moreover, we reject defendant's contention that the "willfulness requirement"4 in 

branch No. 2 allegedly included an element of knowledge to bring about the direct 

infliction of pain or mental suffering, requiring proof of specific intent. For one thing, 

the wording in both subdivisions shows when the Legislature wanted to include such an 

element, it recognized how to do so, inasmuch as both subdivisions (b)(1) and (c) of 

former section 368 require that a defendant "knows or reasonably should know that a 

person is an elder or dependent adult." (Italics added.) 

For another thing, several courts—including this court—have recognized that a 

statute proscribing willful behavior is a general intent offense unless other language, 

which we already have noted is absent in former section 368, requires a specific intent. 

For example, this court in Alvarado analyzed whether the crime of animal cruelty, as 

defined in former section 597, subdivision (a),5 required proof of general or specific 

intent. 

 

4 We say "willfulness requirement" because under branch No. 2, in contrast to 

branch Nos. 1, 3 and 4, the Legislature omitted the word "willfully" from subdivisions 

(b)(1) and (c) of former section 368: "[1] willfully causes or permits any elder . . . to 

suffer, or [2] inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or [3] having 

the care or custody of any elder . . . , willfully causes or permits the person or health of 

the elder . . . to be injured or [4] willfully causes or permits the elder . . . to be placed in a 

situation in which his or her position or health may be endangered." (Italics added.)

5 Subdivision (a) of former section 597 provided in part: "[E]very person who 

maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or 

maliciously and intentionally kills an animal, is guilty of an offense punishable by 
19

In concluding section 597, subdivision (a) only required proof of a general 

criminal content, this court in Alvarado noted that the statute did not require an offender 

to "have an intent to do some further act or achieve some further consequence other than 

the proscribed acts" (Alvarado, supra, 125 Cal.App.4th at p. 1186); that the statute did 

not contain phrases such as " 'with the intent to' or 'for the purpose of' that would be used 

in a specific intent crime" (id. at pp. 1186-1187); and that, "[i]f the Legislature intended 

section 597, subdivision (a) to describe a specific intent crime, it would have used 

language describing an act and an additional purpose for which the act was done. For 

instance, the statute could have read, 'Every person who maliciously and intentionally 

strikes a living animal, with the intent to maim, mutilate, etc.' Or the statute could have 

read, 'Every person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures or 

wounds a living animal, for the purpose of inflicting pain and suffering . . . .' Drafted in 

either manner, the statute would have described a specific intent crime.

"Nor does the combination of the words 'maliciously and intentionally' turn 

section 597, subdivision (a) into a specific intent statute. Atkins, supra, 25 Cal.4th 76, is 

instructive.

"In Atkins, the California Supreme Court was presented with the issue of whether 

the crime of arson was a general or specific intent crime. The statute at issue there, 

 

imprisonment in the state prison, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars 

($20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment, or, alternatively, by imprisonment in a

county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than twenty thousand 

dollars ($20,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment." (Italics added.)
20

section 451, provides that: 'A person is guilty of arson when he or she willfully and 

maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures 

the burning of, any structure, forest land, or property.' (Italics added.) In concluding that 

section 451 was a general intent statute, the high court rejected the idea that the term 

'willfully and maliciously' was used to describe a specific intent crime: ' "[T]he terms 

'willful' or 'willfully,' when applied in a penal statute, require only that the illegal act or 

omission occur 'intentionally,' without regard to motive or ignorance of the act's 

prohibited character." [Citation.] "Willfully implies no evil intent; ' "it implies that the 

person knows what he is doing, intends to do what he is doing and is a free agent."

[Citation.]' " [Citations.] The use of the word "willfully" in a penal statute usually 

defines a general criminal intent, absent other statutory language that requires "an intent 

to do a further act or achieve a future consequence." [Citations.]' (Atkins, supra, 25 

Cal.4th at p. 85.)" (Alvarado, supra, 125 Cal.App.4th p. 1187.)

In light of these authorities, we conclude that the "willfulness requirement" in 

branch No. 2 implies simply a purpose or willingness to commit the act; and that the 

mens rea required to convict under branch No. 2, as set forth in subdivisions (b)(1) and 

(c) of former section 368, is the intent to perform the underlying act causing an elder or 

dependent adult to suffer pain or mental suffering. We thus decline defendant's invitation 

to read words into the statute that do not exist, including that a defendant acted "with the 

intent to" inflict, or "for the purpose of" inflicting, physical pain or mental suffering on an 

elder or dependent adult.
21

Furthermore, our conclusion that branch No. 2 requires only proof of a general 

criminal intent finds further support in the public policy underlying section 368. Indeed, 

in enacting section 368 our Legislature determined "that crimes against elders and 

dependent adults are deserving of special consideration and protection, not unlike the 

special protections provided for minor children." (§ 368, subd. (a).) Requiring proof of a 

specific intent to inflict willfully "unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering" (§ 368, 

subds. (b)(1) & (c)), which in turn would make available various defenses to negate that 

intent, including, for example, mental incompetence, would potentially undermine the 

important public policy of protecting an elder or dependent adult as expressed by our 

Legislature. (See Gutierrez, supra, 180 Cal.App.3d at p. 1081 [noting the "distinction 

between general intent and specific intent crimes is at bottom founded upon a policy 

decision regarding the availability of certain defenses"].) 

In sum, we conclude the court properly instructed the jury that defendant's alleged 

mental incompetence could only be considered in connection with the issue of whether 

defendant "knew" or "reasonably should have known" that Joan and Joyce were "elders"

under the law. (See § 368, subd. (g) [noting an " 'elder' means any person who is 65 

years of age or older"].) We further conclude the court properly determined defendant 

was not entitled to an instruction that allowed the jury to consider his alleged mental 

incompetence when determining whether he willfully inflicted "unjustifiable physical 

pain or mental suffering" on Joyce, under subdivision (b)(1) of section 368, or on Joan, 

under subdivision (c) of this statute, because these crimes only require proof of general 
22

criminal intent. (See Gutierrez, supra, 180 Cal.App.3d at p. 1082; see also § 28, 

subd. (a).)

Finally, we note defendant's mental competence, or lack thereof, was considered 

by the court when it sentenced him to three years' probation, including one year in a 

residential mental health facility. Before doing so, the court noted defendant was 

"presumptively ineligible" for probation, as did the probation report when it "suggested"

a prison term of seven years—based on the low term of two years (see § 368, subd. 

(b)(1)) and the mandatory term of five years (id., subd. (b)(2)(B); § 12922,7, subd. (c))—

but ultimately recommended probation as well given the "unusual circumstances"

presented. Thus, far from being a nonissue in this case, the court did in fact consider the 

alleged mental incompetence of defendant at his sentencing. 

Turning to the merits, we conclude there is substantial evidence in the record from 

which the jury could find defendant knew, or should have known, that Joyce and Joan 

were each an "elder" as defined under the law, inasmuch as Joyce was his aunt and Joan 

his mother. Moreover, the record shows Joyce was 91 years old, or almost 25 years older 

than the definition of "elder" set forth in the statute (see § 368, subd. (g)), and Joan was 

79 years old, or about 14 years older than the statutory definition (ibid.), at the time of the 

incident.6 (See People v. McCurdy (2014) 59 Cal.4th 1063, 1104 (McCurdy) [noting that 

 

6 We mean no disrespect in pointing out the ages of the victims, as age is an element 

of the offense. In any event, the record shows before she was injured, Joyce's "regular 

routine" included playing golf, which she had been doing since 1962; walking Lake 

Murray at 5:00 a.m. in the morning with other "ladies"; and, after walking at Lake 

Murray, exercising "for about an hour" at a local gym.
23

when considering a claim challenging the sufficiency of the evidence in a criminal case, 

" ' "we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the judgment to determine 

whether it contains substantial evidence—that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, 

and of solid value—from which a reasonable trier of fact could find the defendant guilty 

beyond a reasonable doubt" ' "].)

We also conclude there is substantial evidence in the record to support the finding 

on count 1 that defendant willfully inflicted "unjustifiable physical pain" on Joyce under 

"circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death." As 

summarized ante, the record contains evidence that defendant "forcefully" picked up 

Joyce up from the floor, after she had fallen to one knee while attempting to help her 

sister; that when defendant forcibly grabbed Joyce, he broke her wrist and "tore the skin 

on [her] arms," causing her substantial physical injury that required extensive medical 

treatment; and that defendant intentionally pushed Joyce back into her chair about six 

times, after Joyce attempted to help Joan, which caused Joyce to fall. (See McCurdy, 

supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 1104.)

Moreover, the evidence in the record also supports the finding defendant willfully 

inflicted unjustifiable "mental suffering" on Joyce under circumstances likely to produce 

great bodily harm. Indeed, while inside the house, defendant took a boyhood picture of 

his grandfather (i.e., Joan's father and Joyce's uncle) off Joyce's wall. Defendant next 

walked over to where the two women sat, slammed the picture to the ground and then 

stomped on it, proclaiming his grandfather allegedly had "raped" Joan. 
24

Moreover, the record shows that throughout the incident, Joyce was yelling for 

help and was described by Joan as "hysterical"; that defendant had unexpectedly shown 

up at, and "barged" inside, Joyce's home while she and her sister were watching 

television; and that, throughout the ordeal, he refused to allow the women to call police

despite their repeated pleas for help. 

Thus, there is substantial evidence in the record to support the finding in count 1 

defendant willfully inflicted "unjustifiable physical pain" and "mental suffering" on 

Joyce under circumstances likely to produce great bodily injury. (See § 368, subd. (b)(1); 

see also McCurdy, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 1104.)

We conclude this same evidence also supports the jury's finding on count 2 with 

respect to Joan, as the record shows that defendant repeatedly grabbed Joan from the 

back of the shoulders, "dragged" her back to the chair and then "threw" her in the chair, 

after she attempted on at least three occasions to aid her sister; that he stomped and broke 

the boyhood picture of Joan's father in front of Joan; and that, in doing so, he declared 

that Joan's father allegedly had raped Joan (an accusation she denied). Such evidence, 

which we deem substantial (see McCurdy, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 1104), supports the 

finding defendant inflicted "unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering" on Joan 

under circumstances not likely to cause "great bodily harm or death." (§ 368, subd. (c).)
25

DISPOSITION7

The judgment of conviction is affirmed.

BENKE, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

HUFFMAN, J.

NARES, J.

 

7 Defendant's additional argument that he allegedly received ineffective assistance 

of counsel is moot in light of our disposition in this case.