Court Opinion

ID: 9404540
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-06-23 14:05:39.334072+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:15.075222
License: Public Domain

RENDERED: JUNE 16, 2023; 10:00 A.M.
                         NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

                Commonwealth of Kentucky
                           Court of Appeals

                              NO. 2021-CA-1482-MR

PHILLIP DEWAYNE GOFF, JR.                                          APPELLANT

                APPEAL FROM OHIO CIRCUIT COURT
v.         HONORABLE THOMAS O. CASTLEN, SPECIAL JUDGE
                     ACTION NO. 17-CR-00052

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY                                             APPELLEE

                                    OPINION
                                   AFFIRMING

                                   ** ** ** ** **

BEFORE: ACREE, DIXON, AND JONES, JUDGES.

DIXON, JUDGE: Phillip Dewayne Goff, Jr., appeals the order of the Ohio Circuit

Court, entered on October 19, 2021, revoking his probation. Following a careful

review of the record, briefs, and law, we affirm.
                   FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

                In January 2017, Goff was indicted for possession of a controlled

substance (methamphetamine) in the first degree, second offense;1 possession of

drug paraphernalia;2 and possession of marijuana.3 Goff posted bond and was

ordered to report to Pretrial Services. In February 2017, the Commonwealth

moved the trial court to revoke Goff’s bond due to his failure to report to Pretrial

Services. When Goff failed to appear before the court, a bench warrant was issued.

                In March 2017, Goff moved the trial court to enter a guilty plea. In

exchange, the Commonwealth offered to drop the charges for possession of drug

paraphernalia and marijuana and recommend supervised probation for five years in

lieu of imposing a prison sentence of three years for possession of

methamphetamine. The Commonwealth also proposed that Goff complete a

substance abuse assessment and comply with its recommendations. The court

found Goff’s plea was voluntary and that he was mentally competent. It accepted

the plea and entered a judgment of guilt of possession of methamphetamine.

                In April 2017, a formal sentencing order was entered finding Goff

eligible for probation. The court recommended Goff receive substance abuse

1
    Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 218A.1415, a Class D felony.
2
    KRS 218A.500(2), a Class A misdemeanor.
3
    KRS 218A.1422, a Class B misdemeanor.

                                              -2-
treatment but did not suggest mental health counseling. The order of

probation/conditional discharge provided that Goff “shall be assessed by Joe

Hitchell and comply fully with all recommendations.” A substance abuse

assessment signed by Hitchell was filed with the court recommending that Goff

seek outpatient treatment for substance abuse and undergo a mental health

evaluation. Additional terms of Goff’s probation included no use or consumption

of alcohol or non-prescription drugs and completion of outpatient substance abuse

counseling.

              In October 2017, Goff was admitted to Lincoln Trail Behavioral

Health (Lincoln Trail) for addiction treatment, with no noted mental health issues.

He was discharged in November 2017. In December 2017, Hitchell filed a

substance abuse outpatient therapy compliance status form with the court.

Although the form indicated Goff was “[c]ompliant, successfully completed

treatment[,]” the notes indicate Goff “did not complete treatment, attendance,

[Goff] stopped attending group.”

              In June 2018, Goff was again admitted to Lincoln Trail; however, he

requested an early discharge due to a confrontation he instigated with another

patient.

              In November 2018, Goff’s probation officer filed a violation of

supervision report stating that Goff: (1) tested positive for/admitted to using

                                         -3-
methamphetamine six times, marijuana three times, and alcohol one time while on

probation; (2) failed to comply with his treatment plan for substance abuse; and (3)

failed to report to his probation officer. The Commonwealth moved to revoke

probation on these grounds.

             In December 2018, a probation revocation hearing was held, and the

court ordered that, in lieu of revocation, Goff would serve 60 days in jail “for his

contemptuous behavior, to be probated upon [his] admission into Andrea’s Mission

for at least [12] months, including a combination of residential and outpatient

treatment.” In January 2019, because an “insurance issue” prevented him from

entering Andrea’s Mission, the court ordered Goff to enter Boulware Mission

Center (Boulware), “where he shall remain, complete, and follow all aftercare

recommendations . . . with mental health treatment at River Valley.” Goff

completed Boulware’s outpatient program in February 2019.

             On November 7, 2019, Goff’s probation officer filed another violation

of supervision report stating that Goff received a misdemeanor conviction for theft

by unlawful taking under $500 and absconded. In September 2019, Goff was

ordered to report to his probation officer on October 21, 2019, but no contact had

been made as of the filing of the report. The Commonwealth again moved the trial

court to revoke probation. Goff failed to appear at the hearing, and the court

passed the motion until his arrest.

                                         -4-
             From May 20 through 29, 2021, Goff sought treatment from Lincoln

Trail’s adult chemical dependency unit. His medical records reflect a history of

bipolar disorder, as well as major depressive disorder, recurrent and mild without

psychosis. Goff again requested an early discharge.

             Goff was arrested on June 9, 2021. In August 2021, his probation

officer filed another violation of supervision report for an arrest that occurred in

July 2021, resulting in felony and misdemeanor charges for possession of

marijuana, buying/possessing drug paraphernalia, trafficking methamphetamine,

possession of methamphetamine, and engaging in organized crime. The

Commonwealth supplemented its previous probation revocation motion. A

hearing was held in September 2021, and a revocation order was entered in

October 2021. This appeal followed.

                            STANDARD OF REVIEW

             We review probation revocation orders for abuse of discretion.

Commonwealth v. Andrews, 448 S.W.3d 773, 780 (Ky. 2014) (citing

Commonwealth v. Lopez, 292 S.W.3d 878 (Ky. 2009)). We reverse if we find “the

trial judge’s decision was arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound

legal principles.” Commonwealth v. English, 993 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Ky. 1999).

We “will not hold a trial court to have abused its discretion unless its decision

cannot be located within the range of permissible decisions allowed by a correct

                                          -5-
application of the facts to the law.” Blankenship v. Commonwealth, 494 S.W.3d

506, 508 (Ky. App. 2015) (citation omitted).

            KRS 439.3106 provides the criteria for revoking probation, stating:

            (1) Supervised individuals shall be subject to:

                (a) Violation revocation proceedings and possible
                incarceration for failure to comply with the conditions
                of supervision when such failure constitutes a
                significant risk to prior victims of the supervised
                individual or the community at large, and cannot be
                appropriately managed in the community; or

                (b) Sanctions other than revocation and incarceration
                as appropriate to the severity of the violation
                behavior, the risk of future criminal behavior by the
                offender, and the need for, and availability of,
                interventions which may assist the offender to remain
                compliant and crime-free in the community.

Considering the applicability of this statute to revocation proceedings, the Supreme

Court of Kentucky held:

            We conclude that KRS 439.3106(1) requires trial courts
            to consider whether a probationer’s failure to abide by a
            condition of supervision constitutes a significant risk to
            prior victims or the community at large, and whether the
            probationer cannot be managed in the community before
            probation may be revoked.

Andrews, 448 S.W.3d at 780.

                              LEGAL ANALYSIS

            On appeal, Goff first argues the trial court erred when it failed to order

a competency evaluation. KRS 504.100(1) provides, “If upon arraignment, or

                                        -6-
during any stage of the proceedings, the court has reasonable grounds to believe

the defendant is incompetent to stand trial, the court shall appoint at least one (1)

psychologist or psychiatrist to examine, treat and report on the defendant’s mental

condition.”

              The Supreme Court of Kentucky has held:

                     A defendant is competent to stand trial if he “has a
              substantial capacity to comprehend the nature and
              consequences of the proceedings against him and to
              participate rationally in his defense.” Alley v.
              Commonwealth, 160 S.W.3d 736, 739 (Ky. 2005) (citing
              Commonwealth v. Strickland, 375 S.W.2d 701 (Ky.
              1964)). “A competency determination is based on the
              preponderance of the evidence standard.” Chapman v.
              Commonwealth, 265 S.W.3d 156, 174 (Ky. 2007). We
              review a trial court’s finding of competency for clear
              error and will reverse only if it is not supported by
              substantial evidence. Id.

Jackson v. Commonwealth, 319 S.W.3d 347, 349 (Ky. 2010). It has also held:

                     The standard of appellate review of a trial court’s
              competency decision is “[w]hether a reasonable judge,
              situated as was the trial court judge whose failure to
              conduct an evidentiary hearing is being reviewed, should
              have experienced doubt with respect to competency to
              stand trial.” Turner v. Commonwealth, 153 S.W.3d 823,
              832 (Ky. 2005) (quoting Thompson v. Commonwealth,
              56 S.W.3d 406, 408 (Ky. 2001)). It is within the trial
              court’s sound discretion to determine whether
              “reasonable grounds” exist to question competency,
              though once such grounds do exist, a competency hearing
              is mandatory. Gray v. Commonwealth, 233 S.W.3d 715,
              718 (Ky. 2007).

                                          -7-
Woolfolk v. Commonwealth, 339 S.W.3d 411, 423 (Ky. 2011), as corrected (Apr.

27, 2011) (emphasis added). Additionally, “before a trial court may sua sponte

order a mental health evaluation of a defendant, ‘the reasonable grounds must be

called to the attention of the trial court by the defendant or must be so obvious that

the trial court cannot fail to be aware of them.’” Jackson, 319 S.W.3d at 350

(quoting Via v. Commonwealth, 522 S.W.2d 848, 849-50 (Ky. 1975)).

               In the case herein, Goff’s counsel specifically addressed the issue of

competency when Goff entered his guilty plea, plainly asserting there were no

reasonable grounds to question his competency, and the trial court found him to be

competent. The mental health section of the presentence investigation report

noted, “Goff states that he has been diagnoised [sic] as having Bi-pololar [sic],

Schitzophronic [sic], and Depression.”4 It recommended Goff undergo substance

abuse treatment but did not suggest mental health treatment. Mental health

treatment was neither required at sentencing nor in the court’s probation order.

               It was not until December of 2018 that Goff was ordered to attend a

dual-diagnosis facility at his request. However, due to an “insurance issue,” Goff

was later ordered to attend two separate facilities to address his substance abuse

and mental health issues. At the September 2021 revocation proceeding, Goff’s

4
  The trial court pointed out that the record is devoid of any medical evidence that Goff suffers
from schizophrenia. All documentation regarding schizophrenia was self-reported by Goff.

                                               -8-
counsel argued regarding the need for long-term, dual-diagnosis treatment but did

not assert that Goff was incompetent, nor did the trial court sua sponte find

“reasonable grounds” existed to question Goff’s competency as specified by the

Supreme Court of Kentucky in Jackson, 319 S.W.3d at 349. Given our review, we

cannot say that the trial court “should have experienced doubt with respect to

[Goff’s] competency[.]” Thompson, 56 S.W.3d at 408.

             The remainder of Goff’s arguments stem from his assertion that the

trial court erred in revoking his probation. However, the court made sufficient

written findings as to the essential elements of KRS 439.3106 in its order, and it is

clear from the record that the court followed Andrews and the statutory criteria set

forth by KRS 439.3106 in revoking Goff’s probation. The findings did not merely

perfunctorily cite the statutory language in KRS 439.3106 but also included proof

from the record established by a preponderance of the evidence as to how Goff

violated the terms of his release and the statutory criteria for revocation. Helms v.

Commonwealth, 475 S.W.3d 637, 645 (Ky. App. 2015). In the findings section of

its order, the court explicitly stated it “FINDS, by a preponderance of the

evidence” and listed 13 such findings. The fact the court mentioned “probable

cause” in one of its enumerated findings did not transform its analysis into an

improper one.

                                         -9-
              Proof that Goff violated the terms of his probation includes the fact

that he – not once, but twice – failed to comply with the conditions of his probation

in not completing and following appropriate treatment programs.5 Although he

was given at least four6 opportunities for treatment, he completed two 30-day

programs only to relapse into more drug-related probation violations.

Significantly, “KRS 439.3106 permits, but does not require, a trial court to employ

lesser sanctions[.]” McClure v. Commonwealth, 457 S.W.3d 728, 732 (Ky. App.

2015). In the case herein, the trial court attempted to employ lesser sanctions,

including opportunities to seek treatment, but the lesser sanctions failed to end

Goff’s repeated violations of the conditions of his probation. Accordingly, the

court did not err in refusing to modify Goff’s conditions of probation to allow him

to pursue further treatment.

              Even if Goff were to provide excuses for why he failed to complete

those programs, none can adequately explain why he failed to communicate with

his probation officer from September 2019 until after his arrest in June of 2021.

Goff also failed illegal drug/alcohol tests and/or admitted to using illegal

5
  In Andrews, the court was clear that a decision to revoke probation based solely on a single
violation of the condition that a defendant remain drug-free will be deemed “an abuse of
discretion under the new state of the law.” Andrews, 448 S.W.3d at 780. The revocation in the
case herein is not based on a single violation, nor did it constitute an abuse of discretion.
6
  This does not include the opportunity to attend Andrea’s mission, which was made unavailable
to Goff due to an “insurance issue.”

                                             -10-
drugs/alcohol on multiple occasions while on probation. He claims, although the

trial court failed to specify the occasions, a number of those included incidents

which were the subject of the contempt of court punishment in lieu of revocation.

Ten incidents listed in the violation of supervision reports were considered when

the trial court ordered that Goff attend Andrea’s Mission; yet, the court was not

precluded from considering those violations when determining whether to revoke

probation. See Andrews, 448 S.W.3d at 780. Moreover, Goff also admitted to

marijuana use when he was arrested in June 2021. Further, he was convicted of

misdemeanor theft and later indicted for felony and misdemeanor drug-related

charges.

             It is well-established that “probation may be revoked any time before

the expiration of the probationary period when the trial court is satisfied by a

preponderance of the evidence presented in a revocation hearing that the

probationer violated a condition of probation.” Barker v. Commonwealth, 379

S.W.3d 116, 123 (Ky. 2012). Goff claims the trial court used the wrong standard

in considering his most recent felony and misdemeanor indictment. However, as

previously noted, the findings section of the order stated, the court “FINDS, by a

preponderance of the evidence.” The simple fact that the court later mentioned

“probable cause” in its enumerated findings regarding the felony and misdemeanor

indictment did not transform its analysis into an improper one.

                                         -11-
             Furthermore, while “new charges may form the basis for revocation

proceedings, a conviction on those charges is not necessary in order to revoke

probation.” Id. Nevertheless, Goff pled guilty to the misdemeanor theft charge

prior to the revocation hearing, clearly evincing a probation violation. Contrary to

Goff’s argument, it is of no consequence that the misdemeanor conviction was

probated. See Williams v. Commonwealth, 462 S.W.3d 407, 410 (Ky. App. 2015);

Barker, 379 S.W.3d at 123.

             Goff further claims the trial court erred when it failed to inform him

that he could testify at the revocation hearing with limited immunity without

compromising his defense against his recent indictment. The judicial rule adopted

in Barker, 379 S.W.3d at 128, “protects probationers who testify at revocation

hearings when their testimony relates to new crimes.” It also requires that the trial

court “advise probationers that any testimony related to new crimes given during a

revocation hearing cannot be substantively used in a future criminal proceeding”

and “advise the probationer that the same testimony could be used in the later trial

for impeachment or rebuttal in certain circumstances.” Id. (footnotes omitted).

             Like Barker, Goff “did not specifically request immunity or attempt to

invoke his right against self-incrimination.” Id. However, unlike Barker, Goff

chose not to testify and does not assert that he would have testified had he been so

advised. Instead, his brief merely claims, “this was conceivably because he was

                                        -12-
afraid his testimony on the revocation violation based on his pending indictment

could be used against him at a trial on the indicted charges.” Therefore, as in

Barker, “we cannot say that the fact that the trial court did not inform [Goff] that

he could testify at his own probation revocation hearing with limited immunity

affected his substantial rights or resulted in a manifest injustice.” Id. at 129.

               Goff’s drug abuse fuels his criminal behavior, making him a

significant danger to the community.7 His failure to successfully complete and

follow treatment, report to his probation officer, maintain sobriety, and follow the

law demonstrates that he cannot be effectively managed in the community.

               While a more thorough written analysis in the trial court’s revocation

order detailing the court’s thought process and rationale may be desirable, it is not

necessary as it is clear upon review of the order, probation revocation proceedings,

and record that the court considered the proper requirements for revocation and did

not abuse its discretion in so doing.8 Thus, we must affirm the order revoking

Goff’s probation.

7
   Therefore, the case herein is factually and legally distinguishable from Helms, in which “there
is a complete lack of evidence in the record that Helms is a danger . . . to the community and he
cannot be appropriately managed in the community.” Helms, 475 S.W.3d at 645. Helms was
able to be managed effectively in his community for more than 18 months. By contrast, in the
case herein, Goff could not comply with the terms of his probation for any appreciable period of
time despite being given multiple chances.
8
  Like Andrews, the trial court in the case herein clearly considered a variety of factors and did
not abuse its discretion. In Andrews:

                                               -13-
                                    CONCLUSION

             Therefore, and for the foregoing reasons, the order entered by the

Ohio Circuit Court is AFFIRMED.

             ALL CONCUR.

 BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT:                         BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:

 J. Vincent Aprile II                          Daniel Cameron
 Louisville, Kentucky                          Attorney General of Kentucky

                                               Bryan D. Morrow
                                               Assistant Attorney General
                                               Frankfort, Kentucky

             the trial court plainly considered a variety of factors, and
             specifically considered the criteria in KRS 439.3106. The trial
             court found that Andrews’s recent drug use and past history
             strongly suggested that he was at great risk of reoffending and
             committing future drug crimes in the community. [] While
             Andrews’s criminal history could not be the sole basis for his
             revocation, it was appropriately considered when assessing the risk
             posed by his continued probation. . . . In sum, although Andrews’s
             situation was not clear-cut and another judge may have opted for a
             lesser sanction, the trial court’s decision to revoke Andrews’s
             probation was neither arbitrary nor unreasonable. The trial court
             acted within its discretion in revoking Andrews’s probation under
             KRS 439.3106(1), and that decision will stand.

Andrews, 448 S.W.3d at 780-81.

                                            -14-