Court Opinion

ID: 9375787
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-28 21:02:29.784981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:01.827888
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/28/23 P. v. Y.R. CA4/2
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
 California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
                                     or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

           IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

 THE PEOPLE,

          Plaintiff and Respondent,                                      E078655

 v.                                                                      (Super. Ct. No. FVI21003050)

 Y.R.,                                                                   OPINION

          Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Miriam I. Morton,

Judge. Affirmed.

         Steven S. Lubliner, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Rob Bonta, Attorney General, Lance E. Winters, Chief Assistant Attorney

General, Charles C. Ragland , Assistant Attorney General, Paige B. Hazard and Anthony

Da Silva, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

                                                             1
                                               I.

                                      INTRODUCTION

       While in a psychotic state, defendant and appellant Y.R. assaulted another person

with a crescent wrench. After defendant was declared incompetent to stand trial, the trial

court authorized an order for involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication
                           1
pursuant to Penal Code section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(ii)(I). On appeal, defendant

argues the order authorizing involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication must

be reversed because there was insufficient evidence to support the order. Alternatively,

defendant contends the case should be remanded to allow the trial court to issue findings

of fact and conclusions of law. We reject these contentions and affirm the order.

                                              II.

                               PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On November 3, 2021, the People filed a felony complaint charging defendant

with assault with a deadly weapon, to wit, a crescent wrench (§ 245, subd. (a)(1)).

       On November 9, 2021, defendant pleaded not guilty and a preliminary hearing was

set. On December 1 and 8, 2021, the matter was continued because defendant refused to

be transported to court.

       On December 16, 2021, defendant was present in court and her appointed counsel

declared a doubt as to defendant’s competency to stand trial pursuant to section 1360.

       1
           All future statutory references are to the Penal Code.

                                               2
The trial court suspended proceedings and appointed a doctor to evaluate defendant’s

competency.

       Dr. Jose M. Muinos Ph.D., a psychiatrist, interviewed defendant on December 22,

2021 at the jail and had access to defendant’s medical and police records. Dr. Muinos

indicated that defendant’s incompetency was caused by a mental disorder, specifically

bipolar disorder. He opined that defendant was able to understand the nature of the

proceedings, but was unable to assist counsel in a rational manner in preparing her

defense. Dr. Muinos noted that defendant should be examined to determine if

antipsychotic medications were medically appropriate and that defendant did not have the

capacity to make decisions regarding antipsychotic medications.

       Dr. Muinos explained: “A review of the medical chart at the West Valley

Detention Center indicates that [defendant] is seen as disoriented, disheveled, paranoid,

irritable with poor insight and judgment. She has been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

and she is not seen as having any symptoms that would preclude her from attending

court. The defendant refused to take medications.” Dr. Muinos further stated that it was

a difficult case, stating: “At times the defendant has the appearance of a competent

defendant, but at other times she will say she is the President [of the United States], or

that she was already in the county jail when she was arrested. She believes that someone

else committed the crime she is accused of. It is somewhat a toss-up whether she would

be considered competent at this time.”

                                              3
       A hearing was held on February 3, 2022. Defendant refused to appear in court,

and the parties submitted on Dr. Muinos’s report. The parties stipulated Dr. Muinos

would testify in accordance with his report. The trial court accepted the stipulation.

Defendant’s appointed counsel noted that Dr. Muinos found defendant incompetent and

also informed the court for the record that their office had stipulated to a forced treatment

order for defendant under section 2603 in a separate proceeding. The court found

defendant incompetent to stand trial, continued the suspension of criminal proceedings,

and referred defendant to MHM Services for a placement recommendation. The court

also referred defendant to Dr. Mendel Feldsher, a forensic psychiatrist, to determine

whether the administration of involuntary medication was necessary to restore

defendant’s competency.

       On February 21, 2022, Dr. Ashley Rubio, a psychologist employed by MHM

Services, submitted a placement recommendation for defendant. Because defendant

continued to pose a danger to the victim and the community, Dr. Rubio recommended

that defendant be referred to the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) “in

order to receive competency training in a locked forensic setting that has the necessary

psychiatric interventions to restore her to competency, while also providing the high level

of structure and support she requires.”

       On February 22, 2022, Dr. Feldsher’s report was filed with the court. Dr. Feldsher

determined whether defendant met the criteria for a court order permitting the involuntary

administration of antipsychotic medication. Dr. Feldsher’s report indicates that he had

                                              4
attempted to interview defendant at the jail. However, once defendant was informed that

a court-appointed psychiatrist arrived to interview her she refused to participate. Dr.

Feldsher reviewed the police reports regarding the instant offense, the competency

evaluation by psychiatrist Dr. Muinos, defendant’s jail medical records, and a California

Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) printout.

        Following his evaluation, Dr. Feldsher concluded that defendant met “multiple

criteria to support an involuntary medication order in accordance with [Penal Code

section] 1370[, subdivision](a)(2)(B)(i)(I-II)[.]” Specifically, Dr. Feldsher opined that

defendant met the criteria for an involuntary medication order because defendant: (1)

suffered from an unspecified psychotic disorder, which was appropriately treated with

antipsychotic medication; (2) lacked decision-making capacity as she lacked insight into

her mental disorder and was unable to engage in a rational conversation regarding the

benefits versus risks of treatment; (3) currently suffered adverse effects to her mental

health, which was evidenced by her recently expressed paranoid delusional belief that her

father and stepbrother came into the jail and raped her; and, (4) demonstrated danger as a

result of the mental disorder because she was in custody for a highly violent offense that

was psychosis-driven and her psychosis remained uncontrolled. Dr. Feldsher noted that

defendant was currently on an involuntary medication order at the jail pursuant to section

2603.

        Dr. Feldsher also provided information pursuant to section 1370, subdivision

(a)(2)(B)(i)(III) for the trial court’s consideration in authorizing an involuntary

                                              5
medication order. Dr. Feldscher explained: “Treatment with antipsychotic medication is

likely to restore [defendant] to trial competence. Treatment with antipsychotic

medication is unlikely to compromise [defendant]’s trial competence. Alternative, less

intrusive treatments are unlikely to restore [defendant] to trial competence. Treatment

with antipsychotic medication is in [defendant]’s best medical interests in light of her

psychotic disorder.”

       Dr. Feldsher indicated the “[m]ore serious side effects of antipsychotic

medications include extrapyramidal symptoms, tardive dyskinesia, metabolic syndrome

with an increased risk for diabetes, orthostatic hypotension, seizures, agranulocytosis,

hyperthermia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome which can be fatal.” Dr. Feldsher

noted that “[t]he risks of untreated psychosis include . . . suicide, homicide, accidents,

violence towards others, victimization from others, arson, homelessness, incarceration,

institutionalization, premature death due to untreated medical illness, seizures as a result

of electrolyte abnormalities due to excessive water consumption, intestinal blockage or

perforation as a result of swallowing foreign objects, and self-induced ocular and/or

genital mutilation.”

       Dr. Feldsher opined “the specific antipsychotic medication which [defendant]

should be administered is best decided by the psychiatrist who will assume [her] care.”

Dr. Feldsher explained there was “no definitive way to know in advance which

antipsychotic medication will be effective . . . given [the] patient’s psychosis,” and that

“in the absence of any known past history of a positive response with a particular

                                              6
medication,” it was not “uncommon for individuals with psychosis to require trials with

more than one antipsychotic medication in order to achieve an appreciable response with

a particular medication.”

       The trial court held a hearing on February 25, 2022. Defendant again refused to

come to court. The trial court indicated it had a placement report and order for

involuntary medication. The parties stipulated the doctors would testify in accordance

with their reports, which would be received into evidence, and the court accepted the

stipulation. Defendant’s counsel submitted on the placement report, but requested a

formal hearing on the issue of involuntary forced medication. The court ordered

defendant committed to the DSH for two years, noting her maximum term of exposure

was four years, and set a hearing regarding involuntary medication. The court also

ordered that defendant be transported to court and that Dr. Feldsher be available by

telephone to testify.

       On February 28, 2022, a contested involuntary medication hearing was held.

Defendant again refused to attend court. The trial court stated “[o]nce again [defendant]

refused to come to court and for her safety and the safety of staff [defendant] was not

physically forced to come to court.” Dr. Feldsher testified that defendant suffered from a

mental disorder of having psychotic symptoms, including paranoid delusional beliefs, at

the time of the offense and during the past months while in jail. Dr. Feldsher noted the

police report indicated that at the time of the charged assault with a deadly weapon,

defendant was yelling at imaginary people in the wall. Dr. Feldsher determined “[t]he

                                             7
available evidence supports that her alleged assaultive behavior was the product of her

uncontrolled psychosis.” He explained that at the jail defendant had articulated a

paranoid delusional belief her father and stepbrother were coming into her cell and raping

her and that defendant had requested a pregnancy test based on that belief. Defendant

had also stated at the jail her belief that she was the President of the United States.

       Dr. Feldsher opined that it was medically appropriate to treat defendant’s mental

disorder with antipsychotic medication and that defendant showed “compelling evidence”

she suffered psychotic symptoms from a psychotic disorder to which she required

medication. Dr. Feldsher also concluded that defendant lacked decision making capacity

regarding the need for antipsychotic medication and that, although he did not have the

benefit of interviewing defendant, his opinion was based on the totality of the evidence

including recent jail notes. A January 28, 2022 jail note indicated “in the context of her

paranoid delusional beliefs about her stepbrother and father” defendant had stated that
                                                                                          2
she would not take her “medications anymore” and that she would sue the psychiatrist.

Dr. Feldsher explained defendant’s statements demonstrated it was “likely” that

defendant “lacks insight regarding her mental disorder,” she was “not able to rationally

       2
          Jail medical records between November 15, 2021 and February 18, 2022 noted
defendant’s beliefs that she was a telepath and the president, her father and stepbrother
snuck into her cell at night to rape her, and family members were paying the jail to keep
her there. The jail medical records also noted defendant’s refusal to take medication, an
involuntary medication order, defendant’s protest of the involuntary medication order
instituted in January 2022 with threats to sue jail medical personnel, and a statement by
her on February 18, 2022, that she was “doing better.” No delusions, outbursts, or
complaints were noted for February 18, 2022, but listed defendant’s medications and
dosages and her medical conditions of epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

                                              8
appreciate her need for antipsychotic medication” and was not able to recognize “how

failure to accept treatment would place her at risk in the future [for] adverse

consequences connected to her uncontrolled psychosis.”

       Dr. Feldsher concluded defendant was currently suffering adverse effects to her

mental health as “clearly evidenced” by defendant’s recent expressed paranoid delusional

beliefs that she was being raped by her relatives in jail and her apparent psychosis-driven

violent behavior during the charged assault with a deadly weapon. Dr. Feldsher testified

that if defendant’s psychosis was not medically treated, defendant would be at an

elevated risk of self-harm, harming others or being victimized by others and that

defendant’s assault of a relative with no “reality based reason” supported the finding that

she was at particular risk of committing violence against others if her psychosis was not

treated.

       The prosecutor requested that defendant be involuntarily administered

antipsychotic medication because of her current untreated psychotic symptoms, the future

harm posed by not medicating her, and her lack of decision-making ability regarding the

need for the medication. Defendant’s counsel did not have any questions for Dr.

Feldsher, but argued there was insufficient evidence to order defendant to involuntarily

take antipsychotic medication because the requirements of section 1370 had not been

met. Defendant’s counsel explained that there was no evidence the medication was likely

to render defendant competent to stand trial, was unlikely to have side effects that would

interfere with her ability to understand the proceedings, would allow her to assist counsel

                                              9
to conduct her defense, or a less intrusive treatment was unavailable. Defendant’s

counsel also noted the evidence was insufficient to show that antipsychotic medication

was in defendant’s best interest in light of her medical condition.

After considering Dr. Feldsher’s testimony and argument by the parties, the trial court

granted the involuntary medication order and ordered that antipsychotic medications

could be administered involuntarily to defendant. The court also confirmed defendant’s

state hospital commitment.

       On March 4, 2022, a stipulation and proposed order to continue the order

authorizing involuntary medication pursuant to section 2603 was filed under seal. This

order included stipulations and findings made by a psychiatrist. On March 7, 2022, the

trial court signed the order. The order stated: “The Court having considered the matter

and stipulation of the parties finds by clear and convincing evidence that: [¶] (1) The

defendant has a serious mental disorder that requires treatment with psychiatric

medication; [¶] (2) But for the medication, the defendant would revert to the behavior

that was the basis for the prior order authorizing involuntary medication; and [¶] (3) The
                                                                                            3
defendant lacks insight regarding his or her . . . own medication and treatment regimen.”

Defendant timely appealed.

       3
         On May 25, 2022, defendant filed a record omission notice pursuant to
California Rules of Court, Rule 8.340(b) seeking the written order for involuntary
medication. On June 27, 2022, the superior court clerk filed a response stating that there
was no written order. Defendant’s appellate counsel notes in the opening brief that DSH
has since filed a certificate of restoration of competence but that defense counsel has
refused to submit on it and that according to the online docket, a jury trial on defendant’s
competency was scheduled for August 17, 2022.

                                             10
                                            III.

                                      DISCUSSION

       Defendant argues the order authorizing involuntary administration of antipsychotic

medication must be reversed because it was made without any evidentiary support or,

alternatively, the matter should be remanded so the trial court can issue findings of fact

and conclusions of law. We disagree.

       A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law

       The parties agree that our standard of review in this matter is whether substantial

evidence supports the trial court’s order authorizing defendant’s involuntary medication.

Courts of Appeal have indeed so held. (See People v. McDuffie (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th

880, 887; People v. O’Dell (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 562, 570 (O’Dell ); People v.

Christiana (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 1040, 1049-1050; People v. Coleman (2012) 208

Cal.App.4th 627, 633.) Accordingly we look for, as our Supreme Court has held,

“‘“evidence which is reasonable, credible, and of solid value”’” (People v. Prince (2007)

40 Cal.4th 1179, 1251, quoting People v. Hillhouse (2002) 27 Cal.4th 469, 496), and

view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict to determine if it supports the

trial court’s finding (People v. Marshall (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1, 31). In other words, “[a]

substantial evidence inquiry examines the record in the light most favorable to the

judgment [or order] and upholds it if the record contains reasonable, credible evidence of

solid value upon which a reasonable trier of fact could have relied in reaching the

conclusion in question. Once such evidence is found, the substantial evidence test is

                                             11
satisfied.” (People v. Barnwell (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1038, 1052, citing People v. Johnson

(1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578.)

       Individuals have a qualified right to refuse antipsychotic medication under the

federal and state constitutions. (Sell v. United States (2003) 539 U.S. 166, 178; In re

Qawi (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1, 14-16.) They have a “significant” constitutionally protected

“liberty interest in avoiding the unwanted administration of antipsychotic drugs under the

Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” (Washington v. Harper (1990) 494

U.S. 210, 221-222; see People v. McDuffie, supra, 144 Cal.App.4th 880, 886; O’Dell,

supra, 126 Cal.App.4th at pp. 568-569.) This same interest is protected under

California’s right to privacy, which “clearly extends to the right to refuse antipsychotic

drugs.” (In re Qawi, supra, at p. 14; see People v. McDuffie, supra, at pp. 886-887.)

State prison inmates may do so unless “the inmate is dangerous to himself or others and

the treatment is in the inmate’s medical interest.” (Washington v. Harper, supra, at p.

227.) Pretrial detainees are entitled to the same protection. (Riggins v. Nevada (1992)

504 U.S. 127, 135.)

       The United States Supreme Court has held the government can involuntarily

medicate a mentally ill criminal defendant in order to render him or her competent to

stand trial only if four factors are present. (Sell v. United States, supra, 539 U.S. at p.

180.) First, important governmental interests must be at stake. Thus, bringing an

accused to trial is important but courts must consider the individual case. Second, the

court must conclude that involuntary medication will significantly further the

                                              12
concomitant state interests of timely prosecution and a fair trial. (Id. at p. 181.) The

court must find that administration of drugs “is substantially likely to render the

defendant competent to stand trial” and “must find that administration of the drugs is

substantially unlikely to have side effects that will interfere significantly with the

defendant’s ability to assist counsel in conducting a trial defense, thereby rendering the

trial unfair.” (Ibid.) Third, the court must conclude involuntary medication is necessary

to further those interests. (Ibid.) The court must find that any alternative, less intrusive

treatments are unlikely to achieve substantially the same results. (Ibid.) And the court

must consider less intrusive means for administering drugs. (Ibid.) Fourth, the court

must conclude administration of the drugs is medically appropriate, i.e., in the patient’s

best interest given his or her medical condition. (Ibid.) “The specific kinds of drugs at

issue may matter here as elsewhere. Different kinds of antipsychotic drugs may produce

different side effects and enjoy different levels of success.” (Ibid.) “A court need not

consider whether to allow forced medication [to render a defendant competent to stand

trial], if forced medication is warranted for a different purpose, such as . . . the

individual’s dangerousness, or purposes related to the individual’s own interests where

refusal to take drugs puts his [or her] health gravely at risk.” (Id. at pp. 181-182.)

       These constitutional requirements have been codified by our Legislature in the

Penal Code. (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B); see O’Dell, supra, 126 Cal.App.4th at p. 569.)

Under California law, when a defendant has been found mentally incompetent, a trial

court must determine whether a “defendant lacks capacity to make decisions regarding

                                               13
the administration of antipsychotic medication.” (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B).) In 2004, the

California Legislature amended section 1370 to meet modern constitutional standards.

(People v. Lameed (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 381, 396.) Among those amendments, the

Legislature added subdivision (a)(2)(B), which permits involuntary medication in three

circumstances: (1) a defendant lacks the capacity to make decisions regarding

antipsychotic medication, and it is necessary to protect the defendant’s health; (2) the

defendant is a danger to others; or (3) involuntary medication is necessary to restore the

defendant to competence for trial. (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(III); see People v.

Lameed, supra, at p. 396.) If any one of three conditions are satisfied the court shall

issue an order authorizing involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication to the

defendant when and as prescribed by the defendant’s treating psychiatrist at the facility

housing defendant for restoration of competency. (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(ii); see

§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I)-(III).)

       The first condition is when the court finds “the defendant lacks capacity to make

decisions regarding antipsychotic medication, the defendant’s mental disorder requires

medical treatment with antipsychotic medication, and, if the defendant’s mental disorder

is not treated with antipsychotic medication, it is probable that serious harm to the

physical or mental health of the [patient] will result.” (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I).) The

second condition is met if the court finds the defendant is a danger to others and has

inflicted or threatened to inflict “substantial physical harm on another . . . and the

defendant presents, as a result of mental disorder or mental defect, a demonstrated danger

                                              14
of inflicting substantial physical harm on others.” the defendant is a danger to others, in

that the defendant inflicted, attempted or threatened to inflict substantial physical harm

on another while in custody, or the defendant was taken into custody for inflicting, or

attempting or threatening to inflict substantial physical harm on another, and the

defendant presents, as a result of a mental disorder or defect, a “demonstrated danger of

inflicting substantial physical harm on others.” (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(II).) And the

third condition is when the defendant has been charged with a serious crime against the

person or property, “involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication is

substantially likely to render the defendant competent to stand trial,” there is no less

intrusive treatment, and antipsychotic medication is in the defendant’s best medical

interest in light of their medical condition. (§ 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(III).)

       B. Analysis

       Defendant contends there was insufficient evidence to establish any of the three

conditions for authorizing the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication

enumerated in section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I-III). The People respond that there

was substantial evidence to support the trial court’s order under section 1370, subdivision

(a)(2)(B)(i)(I).

       Preliminarily, we note that at the February 28, 2022 involuntary medication

hearing the People did not claim the condition under section 1370, subdivision

(a)(2)(B)(i)(III) had been satisfied. In other words, the People did not argue that

involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication was substantially likely to render

                                              15
defendant competent to stand trial, there was no less intrusive treatment, and

antipsychotic medication was in defendant’s best medical interest. (See § 1370, subd.

(a)(2)(B)(i)(III).) Rather, the People argued that defendant should be “forced to undergo

antipsychotic medication due to the adverse effects that is currently displayed on her, the

future harm it poses, and her lack of decision-making ability. . . .” The People relied only

on the first condition to authorize an involuntary medication order.

       To support an involuntary medication order under the first condition pursuant to

section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I), the trial court must make the following three

findings: (1) defendant lacked the capacity to make decisions regarding treatment with

antipsychotic medication; (2) defendant’s mental illness required treatment with

antipsychotic medication; and (3) serious harm to defendant’s physical or mental health

would result if defendant were not so treated. (§ 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I).)

       Here, substantial evidence supports a finding that defendant lacked the capacity to

make decisions regarding antipsychotic medication. The record shows defendant did not

understand her diagnosis or treatment options and was unable to rationally discuss them.

Defendant failed to rationally participate in treatment decisions by refusing to be

interviewed by Dr. Feldsher, the court-appointed psychiatrist, at the jail. Dr. Feldsher

thus had to rely on the totality of the evidence before him including the jail notes. The

jail notes indicated defendant had hid under the blankets in her cell because she claimed

her father and stepbrother could see her through cameras in the walls. Defendant also

claimed that her stepbrother and father had keys to her cell, entered her cell and raped

                                             16
her. Defendant stated that she would “not take the medications anymore,” the document

presented to her was “not a valid order from the court,” and that she would sue the

psychiatrist. Dr. Feldsher testified that the jail notes reflecting defendant’s delusional

beliefs about her father and stepbrother and refusal to take medication demonstrated a

likelihood that defendant “lacks insight regarding her mental disorder,” she was “not able

to rationally appreciate her need for antipsychotic medication,” and she was not able to

recognize “how failure to accept treatment would place her at risk in the future [for]

adverse consequences connected to her uncontrolled psychosis.” Moreover, defendant

repeatedly refused to attend court, including the February 28, 2022 involuntary

medication hearing where the court could have been able to evaluate her capacity to make

decisions.

       Although, as defendant points out, the most recent medical record of February 18,

2022 reported the medication she was on and defendant’s statement that she was “‘doing

better,’” defendant ignores the fact that she was placed on involuntary medication in a
                      4
different proceeding. Presumably, defendant was “‘doing better’” because she was

involuntarily being administered medication to combat her bipolar disorder. Defendant

also fails to note that just seven days earlier, on February 11, 2022, the jail psychiatry

       4
         The February 18, 2022 jail psychiatry note specifically states: “Seen at cell door
with assigned deputy. Limits of confidentiality discussed and she agrees to continue. ‘I
am doing better.’ No side effects reported . . . . Current Medications: Diphenhydramine
100 mg po qhs; Levetiracetam ER 1000 mg po qam; Lithium 300 mg po tid; Phenytoin
100 mg po tid; Risperdal Consta 50 mg intramuscular every 14 days in the AM - Patient
on involuntary order . . . . Current Conditions: Epilepsy Unspecified; Bipolar Disorder.”

                                              17
note stated: “Initially [defendant] was in bed, covered with blanket, talking loudly to

self. When asked who is she talking to, she casually answered, ‘Oh, was my father. I am

hiding under the blanket so he and my stepbrother Seth can’t see me. They have cameras

in the walls. Do you want proof? Tell the deputies to check for cameras in the walls of

my other room please.” Furthermore, the psychiatry jail notes for January 28, 2022,

stated: “. . . She becomes more paranoid again. [Defendant stated] ‘It’s fact that my

stepbrother that has the keys of this cell came in and raped me. It’s on camera. I will not

take the medications anymore. This is not a valid order from the court. I am going to sue

you. Where is your name on the paper?’” The evidence was sufficient to support a

finding that defendant lacked the capacity to make decisions regarding treatment with

antipsychotic medication. (See People v. Lameed, supra, 247 Cal.App.4th at pp. 399-

400.)

        Turning to the second element, there was sufficient evidence to show defendant’s

mental illness required treatment with antipsychotic medication. Indeed, defendant does

not argue otherwise. At the involuntary medication hearing, Dr. Feldsher testified that

defendant showed “compelling evidence” she suffered psychotic symptoms from a

psychotic disorder that was medically treated with antipsychotic medication and opined

that it was medically appropriate to treat defendant’s mental disorder with antipsychotic

medication. There was undeniable medical evidence that defendant suffered from an

unspecified psychotic disorder and that, when a patient did not have any known history

with a particular antipsychotic medication, the treating psychiatrist was in the best

                                             18
position to determine what antipsychotic medication was medically appropriate for the

patient’s condition. Dr. Feldsher explained that it was not “uncommon” for persons with

psychosis to require trials with more than one antipsychotic medication to achieve an

appreciable response with a particular medication.

       Defendant argues Dr. Feldsher “did not pin down [her] diagnosis,” “did not

recommend a particular antipsychotic medication so that the trial court could hone in on

particular side effects,” and “did not explain why less intrusive methods would be

ineffective in restoring [her] competence.” Defendant believes that Dr. Feldsher’s

recommendations were “as conclusory and unsupported” as those condemned in Carter v.

Superior Court (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 992; O’Dell, supra, 126 Cal.App.4th 562; and

People v. Christiana, supra, 190 Cal.App.4th 1040. However, Carter, O’Dell and

Christiana are distinguishable since none of those cases involved an involuntary

administration of antipsychotic medication under the first condition of the statute –

section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I). (See Carter v. Superior Court, supra, 141

Cal.App.4th 992 [forcible administration of antipsychotic medications to render a

defendant competent for trial]; O’Dell, supra, 126 Cal.App.4th at p. 570, fn. 3 [no

evidence the defendant lacked capacity to make decisions regarding antipsychotic

medication or that he was a danger to others within the meaning of the first two grounds];

People v. Christiana, supra, 190 Cal.App.4th at p. 1049, fn. 4 [“The People do not

contend that involuntary medication is justified for those other purposes, and none of the

medical experts expressed an opinion that those purposes applied to defendant.”].)

                                            19
       For this same reason, we reject the less-intrusive argument raised by defendant.

The People did not argue, and the court did not find, the order was authorized under the

third condition pursuant to section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(III). We also reject

defendant’s remaining contentions. As noted previously, Dr. Feldsher explained why it

was not “uncommon” for persons with psychosis to require trials with more than one

antipsychotic medication. In addition, defendant’s medical records indicate that she

suffered from bipolar disorder.

       Lastly, there was substantial evidence to satisfy the third factor, namely “if the

defendant’s mental disorder is not treated with antipsychotic medication, it is probable

that serious harm to the physical or mental health of the [patient] will result.” (§ 1370,

subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I).) “Probability of serious harm to the physical or mental health of the

defendant requires evidence that the defendant is presently suffering adverse effects their

physical or mental health, or the defendant has previously suffered these effects as a

result of a mental disorder and their condition is substantially deteriorating. The fact that

a defendant has a diagnosis of mental disorder does not alone establish probability of

serious harm to the physical or mental health of the defendant.” (§ 1370, subd.

(a)(2)(B)(i)(I).)

       Dr. Feldsher testified defendant’s paranoid delusional beliefs showed that she was

currently suffering adverse effects to her mental health. He also noted defendant’s

violent behavior during the charged assault with a deadly weapon was psychosis driven.

Dr. Feldsher concluded that without medication, defendant’s mental health would suffer

                                             20
mental decline and that it would be harder to treat defendant. Dr. Feldsher’s

examinations of the psychiatry jail notes and defendant’s medical and criminal records

and conclusions rebut defendant’s argument that “[e]vidence of probable harm to

[defendant]’s ‘physical or mental health’ under section 1370[, subdivision] (a)(2)(B)(i)(I)

was also lacking.” We believe Dr. Feldsher clearly opined that without the proper

medication, defendant’s mental health would substantially deteriorate and that she would

pose a probable risk of harm to self and others. Defendant’s refusal to take medication

and an involuntary medication order from another proceeding also supply further

evidence of the efficacy of involuntary treatment.

       Defendant argues that “[t]he evidence of probable harm to [her] mental health

was . . . weak” because “the most recent medical record of February 18, 2022, showed

her as lucid and cooperative.” Nonetheless, defendant’s jail medical records from

November 15, 2021, to February 11, 2022, showed that defendant was presently suffering

from delusions of being the President of the United States, paranoia that she was being

observed, being visited and raped by her father and stepfather, that she was pregnant, and

that people were paying money to keep her in jail. Defendant also displayed antagonistic

moods about taking her medication.

       We find substantial evidence to support an order for involuntary administration of

antipsychotic medication pursuant to section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I). Given that

substantial evidence supported its order, we find no error.

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       We reject defendant’s alternative argument that the matter should be remanded for

the trial court to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law. The record indicates that

on March 4, 2022, a stipulation and proposed order to continue the order authorizing

involuntary medication pursuant to section 2603 was filed under seal. The stipulations

and agreements included that a psychiatrist or psychologist had determined that

defendant: (1) “has a serious mental disorder and that involuntary administration of

medication is necessary to treat the patient[;] . . . (2) “is gravely disabled and does not

have the capacity to refuse treatment with psychiatric medications, or is a danger to self

or others.” . . . (5) “the medication is in the patient’s best medical interests” . . . (6) “but

for the medication, the patient would revert to the behavior that was the basis for the prior

order authorizing involuntary medication.” . . . [and] (7) “the patient continues to lack

insight regarding the need for medication.” Furthermore, on March 7, 2022, the trial

court signed the order for authorization to administer involuntary medication. The order

included the court’s findings and stated: “The Court having considered the matter and

stipulation of the parties finds by clear and convincing evidence that: [¶] (1) The

defendant has a serious mental disorder that requires treatment with psychiatric

medication; [¶] (2) But for the medication, the defendant would revert to the behavior

that was the basis for the prior order authorizing involuntary medication; and [¶] (3) The

defendant lacks insight regarding his or her own medication and treatment regimen.”

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                                           IV.

                                       DISPOSITION

       The order to administer involuntary medication pursuant to section 1370,

subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I) is affirmed.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                             CODRINGTON
                                                                                  J.

We concur:

McKINSTER
                Acting P. J.

MILLER
                           J.

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