Opinion ID: 1058740
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Proffered evidence

Text: The defendant proffered evidence in support of his intended plea of insanity that included the original report submitted by Dr. Brock as well as lay witness testimony. Dr. Brock's report noted that White's medical history reflected two hospitalizations for psychiatric treatment, the first occurring in Louisiana several months before the alleged offense, and the second shortly after his arrest. Each time White was treated with Haldol, an anti-psychotic medication. Prior to this report, Dr. Brock did not review hospital records from the Louisiana inpatient treatment because they were unavailable, but he opined that during that hospitalization White was likely treated for a drug-induced psychosis caused by rather heavy abuse of narcotics. White reported to Dr. Brock that he used cocaine multiple times daily for at least three months preceding his arrest on these charges. White reported to Brock that he was traveling to New York because `God' had something for him to do there; he believed that God's purpose would be revealed during the trip; he heard the voices of both God and the Devil during much of his journey; he was drawn to a particular motel room because of the number 15 on the door because he believed the number 14 to be a holy number and the number 15 to then mean '14 and me;' the number 15 on the door caused him to believe that he was to go to that room and, apparently, do battle with the individuals in it. With regard to White's mental state at the time of the offenses, Dr. Brock opined that [b]y all indications, Mr. White was, indeed, experiencing symptoms of a psychosis at the time of the offenses for which he currently stands charged. The report cites numerous factors supporting Dr. Brock's opinion, including (1) White's history of psychiatric treatment for psychosis, (2) White's decision to return to drug abuse and quit taking his anti-psychotic medication after the Louisiana hospitalization, (3) White's account of the events surrounding the offense, and (4) his bizarre behavior in walking backwards down the interstate after being warned by police to stay away from that area. Dr. Brock opined that while White seems to meet the threshold criteria for an insanity defense, his defense may not be viable for two reasons. First, White's psychotic symptoms appear to have either been the result of, or have been exacerbated by (most likely the former), his voluntary and excessive use of cocaine. Second, White made significant efforts to not be identified or get caught which would indicate that he knew right from wrong. Dr. Brock submitted a second letter to the court after he had an opportunity to review the records from White's first hospitalization. In this letter, he stated that the medical records confirm[ed] his prior hypothesis that White was suffering from a drug-induced psychosis at the time of his hospitalization in Louisiana, resulting from his abuse of cocaine, antihistamines and marijuana. Dr. Brock concluded that White's psychotic symptoms were almost surely the result of his substance abuse and not some other mental condition. Additionally, White proffered the testimony of Joseph W. Skinner (Skinner), a licensed clinical social worker, who had treated White weekly for a period of about six months during his pre-trial incarceration. Skinner was not qualified as an expert pursuant to Code § 19.2-169.5; however, he was offered as a lay witness. Skinner would have testified that White told him on many occasions that he heard the voice of God both before and after the incident and at times when he was not taking drugs. White next proffered the testimony of his roommate, Troy Whidbee, who would have testified that at some time . . . prior to coming to Virginia, that [White] had advised him that someone was out to kill him and God needed soldiers. Next, White's mother would have testified that her son was hearing voices prior to coming to Virginia, that he reported having seen God in the woods, and that God and the Devil were talking to him trying to get him to do things regarding hurting himself and/or others. That he believed God and the Devil were fighting over his soul. She would have testified that White had drawn red circles around spiders in his jail cell, which he alleged were brought there by jail personnel in order to kill him, and that the spiders could not cross the line because the red symbolized the blood of Christ. Finally, White proffered the testimony of two correctional officers who would have testified that White had expressed to them on several occasions after his arrest that he was hearing voices.