Opinion ID: 852183
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Timely and Comprehensive Mental Health Evaluations

Text: Baer asserts that his trial counsel failed to obtain timely and comprehensive evaluations in a case where mental health was the pivotal issue. (Appellant's Br. at 44.) Baer's theory is that he suffers from cognitive impairments, substance-induced psychotic disorder, and schizotypal, paranoid, and borderline personality disorders... which substantially impaired his ability to conform his conduct to the law at the time of the crime and are extreme mental disturbances[,] and the jury was unaware that Baer had brain damage and the biopsychosocial causes of his many personality disorders. (Appellant's Br. at 44.) Counsel asserts that there is a reasonable likelihood that, had the jury heard the evidence, it would have found Baer GBMI or, at a minimum, voted against death. (Appellant's Br. at 47.) The State, by contrast, points to trial counsel's substantial work investigating, preparing, and presenting evidence of Baer's background and mental health. (Appellee's Br. at 51-53.) It says Baer's post-conviction evidence is substantially cumulative of the testimony and opinion presented at trial, his experts were qualified and judiciously chosen, and that these experts used appropriate and reliable methodology. (Appellee's Br. at 51-53.) Trial counsel hired Dr. George Parker to render a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Baer had any existing symptoms of mental illness and ascertain what treatment was needed. (Trial Tr. at 1774-75.) Dr. Parker found that Baer had a history of some significant drug issues[,] including methamphetamine, cocaine, inhalant dependence, and marijuana abuse. (Trial Tr. at 1778.) These issues began in his adolescent years and continued into his adult years. (Trial Tr. at 1778.) Dr. Parker noted that Baer's substance abuse may well have caused significant changes to [his] brain. (Direct Appeal App. at 1551.) At trial, Dr. Mark Cunningham discussed some of Baer's family background and certain risk factors. He discussed Baer's prenatal and perinatal difficulties including his mother having cancer while pregnant, drinking while pregnant, and Baer being malnourished during the first three to six months of his life. (Trial Tr. at 2277, 2305-06, 2308-11.) Dr. Cunningham detailed alcohol abuse in Baer's family history including by his parents during his childhood. He testified extensively about Baer's family, including the number of men his mother bore children with, the multiple family members who were victims of domestic violence, and the many who had psychological disorders. (Trial Tr. at 2288-92, 2341-44, 2347-68.) Dr. Cunningham also testified at length about what he referred to as toxic parenting. (Trial Tr. 2347-68.) He detailed Baer's poor school performance and struggles with ADHD as well as several head injuries suffered during his youth. (Trial Tr. at 2316-28.) Cunningham also extensively discussed Baer's abuse of inhalants, alcohol, methamphetamine, and other substances. (Trial Tr. at 2328-41, 2390-92.) Trial counsel did not directly ask whether Baer met Indiana's statutory definition of mental illness or the statutory mitigators related to his mental health, but Cunningham did say that Baer was extraordinarily damaged. (Trial Tr. at 2410.) At post-conviction, Dr. Philip Harvey, a neuropsychologist with a specialty in psychosis, performed a thorough neuropsychological examination on Baer and determined that there was no evidence Baer was malingering. (PCR Tr. at 275-76.) He diagnosed Baer with persisting dementia, most likely the result of his substance abuse, including methamphetamine and inhalants. (PCR Tr. at 274-78.) Dr. Harvey diagnosed Baer with substance-induced psychosis, a disorder not dependent on Baer taking drugs, but rather persisting long after the discontinuation of substance abuse. (PCR Tr. at 289.) Baer contends the combination of these illnesses meant Baer was under an extreme mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the crime which affected his ability to conform his conduct. (Appellant's Br. at 45.) Dr. George Savarese, a licensed clinical social worker, also testified at PCR. He explained that Baer's mental illnesses were the result of years of abuse, saying that Baer lacked a strong fatherfigure and experienced an unduly enmeshed relationship with his mother and a turbulent relationship between his parentsall which led to an emotional defense mechanism known as splitting. [2] (PCR Tr. at 377, 387-88, 391, 436.) Dr. Savarese concluded that Baer was under extreme mental/emotional disturbance at the time of the crime, but could understand his conduct though he could not control his behavior. (PCR Tr. at 444.) Baer cites Prowell v. State, 741 N.E.2d 704, 714 (Ind.2001), for the notion that failure to retain an appropriate mental health expert in a timely manner and provide that expert with essential information is ineffective assistance of counsel. (Appellant's Br. at 44.) This is obviously correct, but unlike Prowell's lawyers, Baer's counsel did more than rely on the good graces of the Circuit Court judge not to put [Baer] on death row. Prowell, 741 N.E.2d at 715. Baer's counsel enlisted their own experts who were able to help them establish a relationship and acquire useful information to convey at trial. Moreover, Dr. Parker and Dr. Cunningham were not badly chosen or lacking in qualification (indeed trial counsel testified at post-conviction that they had a strategy for their selection), and Baer has not cast any particular doubt about their methodology or demonstrated that the results of their examinations and assessments were unreliable. The PCR court was warranted in concluding that the evidence by additional experts was substantially cumulative of the testimony and opinion presented at trial. The expert testimony and quality of evidence does not appear to be more credible or more deserving of weight than the testimony offered on mental issues at trial. We hold that trial counsel's performance was not deficient in this respect.