Court Opinion

ID: 3208459
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-01 19:03:27.088239+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:18.068309
License: Public Domain

2016 IL App (1st) 150555

                                                                                 THIRD DIVISION
                                                                                     June 1, 2016

                                             No. 1-15-0555

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                          )       Appeal from the
                                                              )       Circuit Court of
                       Plaintiff-Appellee,                    )       Cook County.
                                                              )
v.                                                            )       No. 91 C6 60917
                                                              )
MICHAEL BETHKE,                                               )       Honorable
                                                              )       Frank G. Zelezinski,
                       Defendant-Appellant.                   )       Judge Presiding.

                                             OPINION

JUSTICE LAVIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

Presiding Justice Mason and Justice Pucinski concurred in the judgment and opinion. 

¶1     In June 1991, defendant Michael Bethke decapitated a coworker, wrote in blood on the

victim's forehead, and put the victim's head in a deli case. He was subsequently found not guilty

by reason of insanity of first degree murder and admitted to Elgin Mental Health Center (EMHC)

in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

¶2     In 2012, defendant's treatment team filed a report in support of a petition for treatment

plan review, pursuant to sections 5-2-4(b) and (e) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Code)

(730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(b), (e) (West 2010)), recommending that defendant be allowed "supervised

off-grounds pass privileges." After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied the petition. On

appeal, this court determined that the trial court failed to make findings of fact as required by

section 3-816(a) of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code (405 ILCS 5/3­
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816(a) (West 2010)), and remanded the cause to allow the trial court to enter more specific

findings of fact and conclusions of law. See People v. Bethke, 2014 IL App (1st) 122502, ¶¶ 19­

21. On remand, a second evidentiary hearing was held, and the trial court again denied defendant

off-grounds pass privileges. Defendant now appeals contending, inter alia, that the court's

decision was against the manifest weight of the evidence and improperly relied on the State's

"non-evidentiary" questions and arguments. We affirm.

¶3                                     BACKGROUND

¶4     On January 27, 2015, at the second hearing, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Markos

testified that he examined defendant on October 16, 2014. He had previously examined

defendant on April 18, 2007, June 19, 2009, and July 26, 2012. Markos testified that defendant

was schizophrenic and had received psychiatric treatment since 1991. Defendant had also been

treated for substance abuse issues. Markos concluded, based upon his examinations of defendant

and review of defendant's records, that defendant's mental condition was "improved" and

stabilized by medication. Defendant was "mentally stable." Markos explained that defendant

took anti-psychotic medications, as well as anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication. Because

schizophrenia is generally a "lifelong" disorder, defendant's treatment will be indefinite. If

defendant stopped taking his medication, there was a risk that symptoms would reoccur within a

few days to a week and render him psychotic. Markos had discussed defendant's medication with

defendant. Defendant recognized that he had a mental illness and needed ongoing treatment.

Defendant also understood the connection between his illness and the offense. To the best of

Markos's knowledge, defendant had never refused to take his medication.

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¶5     Markos acknowledged that he did not think defendant was "suitable" for on-grounds pass

privileges in 2007. By 2009, however, defendant was suitable for such privileges because he was

"more compliant" with medication and treatment, his behavior was more stable and he had

received psychotherapy for frustration tolerance and anger management. Since defendant had

been granted on-grounds pass privileges, Markos was not aware of any incident or any irregular

behavior on his part. Off-grounds pass privileges would permit defendant to go to locations

within the community, such as a library or movie theatre, as part of a group of six to eight

patients under staff supervision. Markos testified that even if the trial court approved off-grounds

pass privileges for defendant, the actual use of the pass would be subject to the discretion of

EMHC staff. Markos did not believe that defendant posed an "elopement" risk.

¶6     In Markos's clinical opinion, even if defendant skipped his medication on a day that he

left EMHC, it was unlikely that defendant would relapse that day or even the next because it

takes time for symptoms to reappear. Defendant received his medication in the morning and

evening and would not receive any medication while "out." The goal of pass privileges is to

integrate a patient back into the community; it is progressive and done under supervision.

Because defendant had utilized his on-grounds pass since 2009, he was now suitable for an off-

grounds pass. It was Markos's opinion, within a reasonable degree of medical and psychiatric

certainty, that defendant did not pose a danger to himself or others if he was granted off-grounds

pass privileges. This was the "next step" in defendant's reintegration and rehabilitation.

¶7     During cross-examination, Markos testified that it was "reasonably safe" to say that

defendant's frustration tolerance and anger management issues were under control. Markos was

aware of a 2013 incident during which defendant showed "less frustration tolerance" by throwing

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or knocking over a chair. Defendant was upset after a verbal altercation with another patient,

which Markos conceded occurred in a controlled environment. However, defendant recognized

the behavior, took responsibility, and apologized. As a result of this incident, defendant's on-

grounds pass privileges were temporarily revoked, causing defendant to threaten not to take his

medication. However, defendant complied with his medication regime, and since then there have

been no reported incidents of anger or outbursts.

¶8     Markos acknowledged defendant had certain triggers, such as lack of sleep, but stated

that lack of sleep or stress is a general trigger for anyone. Defendant is also triggered when he is

questioned as to why he is still at EMHC, but Markos testified that such a trigger could apply to

any patient "hospitalized for a period of time." Although defendant had "issues" with anger and

frustration, Markos was unsure whether he could "pinpoint" the exact stressors. Defendant was

upset by the events of September 11, 2001, but defendant did not have his medication "covered"

at that point. In January 2014, defendant became frustrated when he was asked not to sleep with

a bed sheet on his head and then could not sleep because of the anxiety caused by the request.

Markos acknowledged that a progress note relating to this incident indicated a psychiatrist's

concern with defendant's lack of frustration control. Defendant's pass privileges were also

temporarily revoked after he shared candy and DVDs with other patients.

¶9     Markos could not predict whether defendant would come into contact with people who

annoy him while off-grounds. Defendant gets annoyed by other patients' behavior. He

acknowledged that defendant was a "large" man, but contended that this fact alone does not

make defendant dangerous and that there were no reported incidents surrounding defendant's use

of on-grounds pass privileges. Markos did not "discount" sleep disturbance and other stressors,

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but defendant's "primary condition" was "under control" with anti-psychotic medication. Also,

defendant would be under proper supervision. The fact that defendant had faced "issues" at

EMHC indicated that EMHC is very careful with pass privileges. If defendant lost his privileges

over candy, Markos expected "stringent" regulation with respect to off-ground pass privileges.

¶ 10   During redirect, Markos testified that to the best of his knowledge, defendant did not hurt

anyone by flipping the chair and staff managed the incident in a "professional and appropriate

manner." When defendant was told to remove the bed sheet from his head, he did not injure

himself or anyone else. To the best of Markos's knowledge, defendant had not injured or

threatened anyone during his years at EMHC. Although there were manifestations of defendant's

frustration, anger is not a psychiatric symptom. During recross-examination, Markos agreed that

defendant was in a controlled environment when he lost his temper and knocked over the chair.

¶ 11   Dr. Syed Hussain, a staff psychiatrist at EMHC, testified that he had treated defendant

since 2014. His review of defendant's records revealed that at the time of the offense, defendant

was depressed, agitated, paranoid and suffering from insomnia. Defendant heard "noises of a

command [ing] nature" asking him to kill someone and had a history of alcohol and drug use. At

the time of the hearing, defendant was not agitated, paranoid or irritable and was "sleeping pretty

well." Defendant no longer heard voices. Defendant's schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type with

psychotic features, was currently in remission due to medication. Defendant's medication was

last adjusted in November 2013. Defendant also received therapy for his alcohol and substance

abuse issues. Defendant understood his mental illness and the need for medication. To Hussain's

knowledge, defendant had never refused to take his medication.

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¶ 12   During his first five years at EMHC, defendant did not fully understand his illness and

threatened at "times" to stop his medication. Defendant had been compliant since 1998, and his

medications have been adjusted several times during that period. Defendant will need to take

these medications for the rest of his life. At EMHC, defendant is called to the nurses' station for

his medication each morning and night, and a staff member ensures that defendant takes the pills.

"At the moment," defendant got along well with patients and staff. He interacts with other

patients "pretty appropriately," and is appropriate and polite to staff.

¶ 13   Defendant was granted court-authorized unsupervised on-grounds pass privileges in

2009. This permits him to leave the "closed fenced building" and walk the grounds in a specific

area for up to 30 minutes "about" twice a day. Most of EMHC's grounds are unfenced, and if

defendant chose to "walk off," he easily could do so. In Hussain's opinion, defendant never

attempted to escape because this "process" is supposed to help him obtain more privileges.

Defendant's condition was "definitely better," so his doctors were asking for more privileges.

¶ 14   Hussain explained that a supervised off-grounds pass would permit defendant to leave

EMHC, accompanied by staff, to attend an outpatient substance abuse program and to acclimate

to community settings. Generally, these trips have a specific staff-to-patient ratio and are at the

staff's discretion. If there were any "issues," such as defendant refusing to take his medication or

getting into a fight, he would not be permitted to go. When defendant flipped a chair in 2013, his

on-grounds pass privileges were suspended because he should have had "better control of

himself." Hussain opined that defendant is "safe and sound to be able to obtain, engage,

participate and utilize those passes." Although defendant has at times become frustrated and

upset, he has not gotten into a physical altercation since 1998. Defendant has made and

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continues to make "excellent progress." At this stage of his treatment, he would benefit from an

off-grounds pass.

¶ 15   During cross-examination, Hussain testified that defendant did not currently have issues

with frustration and anger. However, "frustration tolerance," or lack thereof, is not necessarily a

sign of mental illness. He admitted that there was "no guarantee" that defendant's illness would

not return, however, the symptoms can be controlled. Hussain explained that when defendant

became frustrated about the temperature in his room, he came to staff and asked for help. In June

2013, he came to staff regarding another patient's derogatory racial comment and was told to stay

away from people who made him upset and to seek staff assistance when necessary. In July

2013, when defendant flipped the chair, he then went to speak to staff. Although he threatened to

stop taking his medication, he later relented. Staff was concerned about defendant's frustration

level in January 2014, when he became upset after he was asked to remove a bed sheet from his

head. However, Hussain did not recall defendant becoming violent or threatening during that

incident. If defendant were to go off-grounds, he would be accompanied by staff so that if he was

subject to interactions that frustrated him, staff could intervene "right away."

¶ 16   In denying defendant off-grounds pass privileges, the court stated that both doctors

agreed that at the time of the crime defendant was schizophrenic and suffering from

hallucinations, that because defendant took his medication the psychotic episodes were in

remission and that defendant should be afforded off-grounds pass privileges. The court noted that

although defendant took his medication, there were "episodes" of anger and in some instances

violence and that defendant had shown "degrees" of frustration. The court highlighted the 2013

and 2014 incidents, which had occurred in the interim between the first and second hearings. The

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court then stated that although defendant was disciplined as a result of those instances, they

occurred in a "controlled environment." Off-grounds pass privileges would place defendant in an

uncontrolled environment and the court's "main concern" was safety. In other words, if

something "trigger[ed] defendant into one of his anger situations" the situation would be

controlled by a limited number of staff members who were also responsible for the other patients

on the trip.

¶ 17    The court had "questions" about defendant's anger and was being "asked" to take a

gamble by allowing defendant to be in the "open public" when he still had anger episodes which

can be triggered for any reason. Although both doctors testified that defendant's hallucinations

were controlled and these incidents were "just matters of anger," they testified the episodes could

be triggered by insomnia or "other factors." Ultimately, the court was concerned by "the potential

of something violent occurring if some of the triggering factors occur." The court declined to

"take the gamble" on defendant in light of the 2013 and 2014 incidents, but stated that it would

"think differently" if defendant had a "clean slate."

¶ 18                                   ANALYSIS

¶ 19    On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court's denial of off-grounds pass privileges

was against the manifest weight of the evidence. Defendant further argues that the court

improperly relied upon the State's "non-evidentiary" arguments and questions and improperly

based its decision on the basis that it was not willing to take any risk.

¶ 20    When a defendant has been acquitted of a crime by reason of insanity, his subsequent

treatment is governed by section 5-2-4 of the Code, which authorizes his involuntary

commitment in order to treat his mental illness and also to protect him and society from his

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potential dangerousness. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4 (West 2010); People v. Jurisec, 199 Ill. 2d 108, 115­

16 (2002). The request for off-grounds pass privileges from such a defendant is specifically

governed by sections 5-2-4(b) and (e) of the Code. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(b), (e) (West 2010).

Section 5-2-4(b) relates to inpatient mental health services after a person is acquitted by reason

of insanity and says, in pertinent part, that the facility director shall file treatment plan reports

which may include a request for off-grounds pass privileges. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(b) (West 2010).

¶ 21     When a petition for treatment plan review is filed, a hearing must be held within 120

days. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(e) (West 2010). If evidence is presented, the burden of proof remains

with the defendant and the defendant must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the

entitlement to certain pass privileges is proper. 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(e), (g) (West 2010); see also

People v. Cross, 289 Ill. App. 3d 876, 888-89 (1997). Section 5-2-4(b) requires that such

privileges be approved by a court order which "may include such conditions on the defendant as

the Court may deem appropriate and necessary to reasonably assure the defendant's satisfactory

progress in treatment and the safety of the defendant and others." 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(b) (West

2010).

¶ 22     On review, we will not reverse a trial court's determination as to whether a defendant met

his burden pursuant to section 5-2-4(g) by clear and convincing evidence unless such a

determination is against the manifest weight of the evidence. People v. Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d
782, 790 (2004). For a decision to be against the manifest weight of the evidence, it must appear

that a conclusion opposite to that reached by the trial court, as trier of fact, is clearly evident. Id.

¶ 23     In the instant case, there was ample evidence to support the trial court's decision. The

record reveals that the trial court's primary concern was defendant's "frustration tolerance" and

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whether defendant could appropriately deal with frustration and anger outside of the controlled

environment at EMHC. In 2013 defendant reacted to another patient's derogatory comment by

flipping a chair over and threatening to not take his medication, and in 2014 defendant was

unable to sleep and anxious after he was asked to remove a bed sheet from his head. The court

acknowledged that during these incidents, defendant did not hurt himself or anyone else, but

noted that each incident occurred in a controlled environment where staff was present to monitor

the situation. The trial court contrasted the controlled environment of EMHC with the

environment that defendant would face with an off-grounds pass, that is, an uncontrolled

environment with fewer staff where anything could trigger defendant's frustration or anger. The

court admitted that it would have thought differently about off-grounds pass privileges if

defendant had appeared before it with a "clean slate," that is, without the two most recent

incidents. See People v. Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d 901, 911-12 (1998) (considering past behavior in

denying supervised off-grounds pass privileges). In other words, although the evidence showed

that defendant was progressing positively, it also established that defendant continued to exhibit

anger and frustration.

¶ 24   Here, the record reveals that the trial court attempted to reconcile defendant's progress

within the controlled environment at EMHC and the two recent anger episodes, with the fact that

an off-grounds pass would place defendant in an uncontrolled environment with fewer staff

members who could intervene if such an episode occurred. Indeed, one of the contemplated off-

grounds activities included defendant's participation in group substance abuse therapy, an

uncontrolled environment in which defendant may well not be the only participant with mental

health or anger management issues. If in the controlled environment of EMHC, the annoying

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behavior of another patient prompted an outburst from defendant, it is not speculative to predict a

like-or more severe-reaction in this uncontrolled and potentially volatile environment. The court

denied off-grounds pass privileges, in pertinent part, because although both doctors testified that

defendant's hallucinations were under control and these incidents were "just matters of anger,"

they agreed that these episodes could be triggered by insomnia or "other factors." The trial court

was concerned that an incident could occur if defendant was subjected to a "triggering" factor

while in public. This court cannot say that the opposite conclusion is clearly evident. See Wolst,
347 Ill. App. 3d at 790.

¶ 25   Defendant, on the other hand, contends that the trial court should not disregard the

testimony of the two expert witnesses who agreed that defendant was suitable for off-grounds

pass privileges. However, the trial court, as the trier of fact, properly weighed the experts'

opinions, along with the other evidence presented at the hearing and formed its own conclusions.

See Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 910 ("requiring the trial court to grant the passes any time a

defendant's treatment team requests them because the team believes they should be granted

would defeat the purpose of the statute's language mandating that the passes may only be granted

based on the trial court's approval" (emphases in original)).

¶ 26   We are similarly unpersuaded by defendant's reliance on People v. Blumenshine, 72 Ill.

App. 3d 949 (1979). At issue in Blumenshine was whether the defendant, found not guilty by

reason of insanity of the offense of murder, had established that he was entitled to a petition for

discharge by clear and convincing evidence. After a hearing during which two psychiatrists

recommended discharge with certain conditions, and the State concurred in that

recommendation, the trial court denied the petition and rejected the experts' opinions. Contrary to

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the witnesses' testimony, the trial court concluded that the evidence failed to clearly or

convincingly establish that the defendant was no longer in need of treatment or that there was a

reasonable assurance for the public's safety. On appeal, the court reversed because the trial court

"erroneously" placed greater emphasis on its own determination that the proposed conditions of

discharge "would not or could not be complied with satisfactorily, to the exclusion of adequate

consideration of expert testimony." Id. at 953-54.

¶ 27   The facts in Blumenshine are distinguishable from those in this case. In that case, two

psychiatrists and the State concurred that the defendant should be discharged subject to certain

conditions, but the trial court denied the petition because the experts could not guarantee that the

defendant would not become violent. In the case at bar, the State has not conceded that defendant

should be afforded an off-grounds pass, and cross-examined both doctors extensively regarding

defendant's treatment history, progress and prognosis. Additionally, the trial court noted that

although the experts in this case testified as to defendant's progress, they also described two

recent incidents during which defendant displayed low frustration tolerance and anger. It was

significant to the trial court-and it is to us-that those incidents occurred in the interim between

the first and second hearings. Unlike the court in Blumenshine, the trial court in the case at bar

considered the experts' testimony and attempted to reconcile defendant's progress with his

continuing manifestations of frustration and anger.

¶ 28   Defendant next argues that the trial court improperly based its decision on the State's

"non-evidentiary" arguments and questions. We disagree.

¶ 29   Defendant appears to argue that rather than witness testimony, the trial court relied on the

State's questions and arguments when making its decision, or, in other words, relied on facts not

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in evidence. However, the trial court specifically referenced the testimony elicited at the hearing

in making its findings. The trial court noted although both doctors testified that defendant's

hallucinations were controlled and that the 2013 and 2014 incidents were "just matters of anger,"

both doctors acknowledged that that these episodes could be triggered by insomnia or "other

factors." The court then explained its concern regarding "the potential of something violent

occurring if some of the triggering factors occur" as both doctors agreed could happen. The

record reveals that the trial court properly weighed the experts' testimony and then made its own

conclusions based upon that testimony. See Cross, 301 Ill. App. 3d at 911. Defendant cites no

authority for the proposition that the fact that the trial court ultimately found the State's

arguments persuasive means that it disregarded the actual testimony and evidence presented at

the hearing.

¶ 30    Defendant finally argues that the trial court improperly based its decision on

unwillingness to take any risk "whatsoever," or, in other words, applied the wrong legal standard.

Defendant argues that such a standard would mean that no one in his position would ever be

granted off-grounds pass privileges because there is no such thing as a guarantee of future

behavior.

¶ 31    However, the record reveals that although the trial court stated that it declined to "take

the gamble" on defendant because of the 2013 and 2014 incidents, the court also stated that it

would "think differently" if defendant had a "clean slate." Rather than the court demanding a

guarantee that defendant was never going to be dangerous, it appears that the court was

concerned about the proximity between defendant's most recent "anger episodes" and the

evidentiary hearing and implied that its decision would have been different absent those

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incidents. Defendant was required to show, by clear and convincing evidence, that an off-

grounds pass was consistent with defendant's satisfactory progress in treatment, the safety of

defendant, and the safety of others. See 730 ILCS 5/5-2-4(b) (West 2010). Defendant has

identified nothing in the record demonstrating that the trial court misapprehended this standard

or subjected defendant to a higher standard.

¶ 32   Ultimately, the record reveals that in denying defendant's off-grounds pass privileges, the

trial court found that although defendant was progressing positively, the evidence also indicated

he could easily relapse if he did not take his medication, and that even while medicated,

defendant could be triggered into an anger episode. This court cannot say that the opposite

conclusion is clearly evident (Wolst, 347 Ill. App. 3d at 790), and we therefore affirm the

judgment of the trial court.

¶ 33                                  CONCLUSION

¶ 34   For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed.

¶ 35   Affirmed.

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