Opinion ID: 3134058
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Psychological Witnesses Testimony

Text: Dr. Barnard assisted the defense in formulating mitigating evidence and conducted a mental health evaluation of Middleton. His findings indicated that Middleton underreported the type of drugs he abused and the frequency of their use. Dr. Barnard determined that Middleton began abusing painkillers after being prescribed the medications following an accidental fall. He also determined that Middleton began smoking marijuana between the ages of ten and thirteen. He described the onset of cocaine use at age twenty-five, ceasing at age thirty. Additionally, Middleton told Dr. Barnard that he had used methamphetamine once a year since he was twenty-eight years old. This statement conflicted with his assertion during his police interview that the day of the murder was the first time he had ever used methamphetamine. Dr. Barnard testified that Middleton reported briefly being medically treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Barnard characterized the symptoms of ADHD as difficulty with impulse control, difficulty regulating behavior to standards or norms, high rate motor activity, and difficulty focusing attention. Dr. Barnard also found that Middleton was possibly exaggerating his symptoms, which may be viewed as a cry for help. Dr. Barnard found it quite - 11 - significant that individuals with Middleton’s personality type are known to have problems with repressed anger and hostility. Dr. Barnard testified that such individuals are sometimes able to control their anger, but sometimes have outbursts that are difficult or impossible for them to control. Equally significant, opined Dr. Barnard, is that individuals with this personality type have problems responding to authority and taking direction, oftentimes accepting little or no responsibility for their behavior. Dr. Barnard concluded that Middleton could not conform his conduct to the requirements of the law on the day in question, and that his substance abuse on the date of the murder would likely impair anyone’s psychological controls, even someone who had no difficulty with impulse control. On cross-examination, Dr. Barnard admitted that he did not review all of the records in this case, such as the depositions of people close to Middleton, his arrest and jail records and his confession to the murder. Dr. Barnard conceded that Middleton was not mentally retarded. The State questioned Dr. Barnard about the report that was conducted by Dr. Landrum in August 2009 which found Middleton’s IQ to be 72. Dr. Barnard testified that Middleton informed him that he did not give his best effort on the IQ test conducted by Dr. Landrum. When Dr. Barnard administered the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) test in September 2011, he determined that Middleton’s full scale IQ was 83. Dr. Barnard determined that Middleton was not malingering during the exam he administered. - 12 - He stated that he was aware that Middleton was administered the WAIS-IV test for a third time in this case by Dr. Riordan in March 2012. Dr. Riordan’s March 2012, evaluation indicated that Middleton’s IQ score was 75. Dr. Barnard would have expected Middleton’s IQ score to be higher, if all other factors were stable. This lower score could be an indication of various factors including Middleton being under the weather or malingering. There were no indications that Middleton was ever separated from the general population in prison due to any mental health issues. Dr. Barnard admitted that Middleton slit his wrists in a holding cell in an attempt not to be extradited back to a facility in Georgia. Dr. Deborah Leporowski testified for the State. She stated that in order to prepare for her testimony, she reviewed Dr. Barnard’s report, previous court testimony, and deposition; Dr. Landrum’s report; and Dr. Riordan’s report, prior court testimony, and deposition. She also interviewed Middleton and reviewed the police reports in this case and transcripts, witness interviews, letters that Middleton wrote while he was in jail, and Department of Corrections records. Dr. Leporowski maintained that Middleton’s IQ scores are illogical with an initial score of 72, a score of 83 two years later and then months later receiving a score of 75. Dr. Leporowski opined that a score of 83 is likely Middleton’s actual IQ score. - 13 - Dr. Leporowski diagnosed Middleton with antisocial personality disorder, as did Dr. Barnard. Dr. Leporowski determined that Middleton was malingering “or at least exaggerating” when taking his personality tests. Dr. Leporowski found no history of mental illness in Middleton’s records or in her interview with him. She rejected any assertion that Middleton’s capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law was substantially impaired. She opined that Middleton’s upbringing did not in any way lead him to believe that those actions involving this crime were acceptable or were warranted in any way based on the victim’s behavior, stating, “Everything he told me about that day was logical, made sense, and indicated that he was able to make decisions and choices.” Dr. Leporowski further noted that Middleton appeared to remember what he did throughout the day, where he did drugs, and the individuals with whom he did them. On cross-examination, she stated that Middleton’s jail records indicated that his detox from drugs while in jail was typical and did not evidence drug dependence, but rather suggested that he used them intermittently when he had access to them.