Court Opinion

ID: 2683797
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-15 19:01:10.479458+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:13:38.926507
License: Public Domain

Filed 7/15/14 P. v. Sargent CA6
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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

                                      SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE,                                                          H040131
                                                                    (Santa Clara County
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                   Super. Ct. Nos. C1244804 &
                                                                     C1356472)
             v.

MATTHEW DAVID SARGENT,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         Matthew David Sargent appeals from an order committing him to the California
Department of State Hospitals after a finding of incompetency to stand trial under Penal
Code section 1368. On November 13, 2012, the Santa Clara County District Attorney
filed an amended citation and complaint charging appellant with a speeding infraction
(Veh. Code, § 22350), and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license. (Veh. Code,
§§ 14601.2, subd. (a), 14601.5, subd. (a).) On May 9, 2013, the Santa Clara County
District Attorney filed a felony complaint charging appellant with felony criminal threats
(Pen. Code, § 422), misdemeanor battery (Pen. Code, §§ 242-243, subd. (a)), and a
misdemeanor violation of a court order. (Pen. Code, § 166, subd. (c)(4).)
         On June 25, 2013, over appellant’s objection, the court declared a doubt as to
appellant’s competence, suspended proceedings, and appointed two doctors to evaluate
appellant’s competence pursuant to Penal Code sections 1368.1 and 1369. Both doctors
found appellant not competent to stand trial. On August 28, 2013, the appellant testified
on his own behalf and the parties submitted on the two reports. The court took judicial
notice of the doctors’ reports and found appellant not competent to stand trial. The court
referred appellant to CONREP2 for a placement evaluation, and scheduled a capacity
hearing. This timely appeal ensued.
       On appeal, we appointed counsel to represent appellant in this court. Appointed
counsel has filed an opening brief which states the case and the facts but raises no
specific issues. (Conservatorship of Ben C. (2007) 40 Cal. 4th 529, 543-544 (Ben C.);
People v. Taylor (2008) 160 Cal. App. 4th 304.) In the opening brief, counsel requests
that we allow appellant the opportunity to submit a brief in propria persona on his own
behalf pursuant to Ben C. On April 1, 2014 we notified appellant of his right to submit
written argument in his own behalf within 30 days. This court extended appellant’s time
to respond until May 30, 2014. That time elapsed and we received nothing from
appellant. On June 4, 2014, appellant requested another extension of time, which this
court denied.
       On June 11, 2014, we received a letter from appellant, entitled, “Appellant’s
Request for Extension of Time and Replacement Council [sic].”1 In his letter, appellant
contends that the order of commitment is not supported by substantial evidence because
the doctors’ reports were erroneous, that the court failed to consider evidence from his
private doctor, and that his appellate counsel is ineffective and has mistreated him.
       The record does not support appellant’s claims. During the hearing, the court gave
appellant the opportunity to personally speak and present arguments regarding his
competence. At that time defendant stated that one of the evaluating doctors had

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          Even though the letter is untimely, we will consider appellant’s arguments in the
interest of justice. On June 24, 2014, we received yet another letter from appellant
entitled, “Appellant’s re-request for reconsideration of time in which to file appellant’s
supplemental opening brief & replacement of Atty[sic].” This letter does nothing but
restate the points made in his June 11, 2014 letter and is again untimely. Therefore, we
will not consider its contents in disposing of this appeal.
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confused him with another patient, so her report should be disregarded. The court heard
appellant’s claims and took them into consideration when finding that the two doctors’
reports supported a finding of incompetence to stand trial. Other than his own claim
regarding the purported confusion, nothing in the record or the reports supports this
contention.
         During his statement to the court, appellant made a vague request that the court
consider the opinion of his personal treating physician, Dr. Rafael Diaz. The court had
no duty to appoint a third physician to evaluate appellant because both doctors’ reports
agreed that appellant was not competent to stand trial. Therefore, the court did not err in
ignoring appellant’s request. Further, after the court made its finding of incompetence, it
did agree to consider Dr. Diaz’s opinion in future proceedings if the evidence were
submitted in writing. We find no arguable issue on appeal from the order finding
appellant incompetent based on the trial court’s failure to continue the proceedings to
solicit the opinion of appellant’s personal doctor.
         Finally, appellant’s contention that appellate counsel is ineffective is without
merit. Nothing in the record of the appellate proceedings supports this conclusion. To
the contrary, counsel’s representation has been competent and diligent during all aspects
of the appellate proceedings. Counsel filed a timely opening brief in compliance with the
requirement of Ben C., supra, 40 Cal. 4th 529, she assisted this court in obtaining
appellant’s correct address when our initial mailing to appellant was initially returned,
and she assisted appellant in seeking extensions of time from this court to file his own
brief.
         The appellant having failed to raise any issue on appeal, we have no alternative
but to dismiss the appeal. (Ben C., supra, 40 Cal. 4th 529.)
                                         DISPOSITION
         The appeal is dismissed.

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                                    _____________________________________

                                               RUSHING, P.J.

WE CONCUR:

_________________________________
      PREMO, J.

_________________________________
      ELIA, J.

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