Court Opinion

ID: 4317776
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-03 15:23:20.735532+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:27.378398
License: Public Domain

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
                              FOURTH DISTRICT

                              JAMES GREEN,
                                Appellant,

                                     v.

                           STATE OF FLORIDA,
                                Appellee.

                              No. 4D17-3276

                             [October 3, 2018]

   Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit,
Broward County; Tim Bailey, Judge; L.T. Case Nos. 14-00473 CF10A,
14-01835 CF10A and 16-07912 CF10A.

  Lee Friedland of Friedland & Associates, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for
appellant.

  Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, and Melynda L.
Melear, Senior Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, for
appellee.

CIKLIN, J.

   This appeal arises from the trial court’s denial of the defendant’s
request for a downward departure sentence based on his mental health
condition. We find the trial court erred in determining that it lacked the
discretion to impose a downward departure sentence, and we reverse and
remand for further proceedings before a different judge.

    The defendant was before the trial court for sentencing on two
violation of probation matters as well as new offenses involving harassing
telephone calls to the judge then presiding over his case. Prior to
sentencing, the defendant was found incompetent to proceed based on
mental illness.     Four months later, after receiving treatment at a
competency restoration center, he was found competent and transferred
to the county jail.

   In a written motion, the defendant sought a downward departure
sentence pursuant to section 921.0026(2)(c) and section 921.0026(2)(d),
Florida Statutes (2017). 1

    After an evidentiary hearing during which a psychologist testified on
the defendant’s behalf, the trial court found the defendant “has a mental
[dis]order [that is] unconnected with substance abuse,” but it denied the
motion, finding that the “doctor said he is not amenable” and that
“[n]obody said [that the defendant] will cooperate and take his meds.
[There is] [z]ero evidence on that.” The court reiterated that there was
“no evidence” of the defendant’s amenability to treatment. The court did
not make any findings as to the other ground for departure raised by the
defendant.

    In reviewing a trial court’s denial of a request for a downward
departure sentence, this court applies a “mixed, two-part review,” which
first addresses whether competent substantial evidence supports the
trial court’s finding as to “whether there is a valid legal ground and
adequate factual support for that ground” (step one), and next addresses
whether the trial court abused its discretion in determining that it
should not depart (step two). Kovalsky v. State, 220 So. 3d 1192, 1194-
95 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017). Here, the trial court erred in two respects, both
relating to step one of the process.

    First, the court found that there was no evidence of the defendant’s
amenability to treatment. But the record clearly belies this notion. For a
trial court to find that a defendant is amenable to treatment, “[t]here
must be evidence that there is a reasonable possibility that such
treatment will be successful.” State v. Hillhouse, 708 So. 2d 326, 327
(Fla. 2d DCA 1998); see also State v. Skidmore, 755 So. 2d 647, 648 (Fla.
4th DCA 1999) (“In order to impose a departure sentence [based on
necessity of and amenability to treatment for a mental disorder], there
must be competent substantial evidence to establish that the defendant
exhibits the potential to be rehabilitated.”).

   Here, the psychologist, Dr. Michael Brannon, testified that the
defendant was amenable to specialized treatment involving placement in
a dual diagnosis residential treatment facility with follow up care, as he

1 Pursuant to section 921.0026(2)(c), the trial court may impose a downward
departure sentence where the “capacity of the defendant to appreciate the
criminal nature of the conduct or to conform that conduct to the requirements
of law was substantially impaired.” Pursuant to section 921.0026(2)(d), the
trial court may impose a downward departure sentence where the “defendant
requires specialized treatment for a mental disorder that is unrelated to
substance abuse or addiction . . . and the defendant is amenable to treatment.”

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had insight into the effects of his disorder, family support, and a
reasonable chance of being able to complete a program. We recognize
that there was evidence that the defendant stopped taking his medication
upon his return to the jail. However, Dr. Brannon explained that this
was not a surprise, as those suffering from schizo-affective disorder
sometimes stop taking their medication while they are in jail or prison
because they feel threatened by the environment. Dr. Brannon also
suggested that unlike a residential dual-diagnosis program offering the
specialized treatment the defendant required, the jail might lack
medication compliance groups that focus on “encourag[ing] the person to
continue to take their medication.” Dr. Brannon observed that when the
defendant had been treated in a place with more structure, such as the
competency restoration center, he had done “very well.”

   In short, although there was conflicting evidence as to the defendant’s
amenability to treatment, there was not a total lack of evidence on this
point, as the trial court erroneously stated, and there was in fact
sufficient evidence to depart. 2

   The trial court also erred in failing to consider the other ground for
departure put forth by the defendant. There was evidence which could
support a departure sentence based on section 921.0026(2)(c). Dr.
Brannon opined that the statements the defendant made in harassing
communications directed to the first judge presiding over his case were
consistent with his diagnosis and “very consistent with delusional
beliefs.” He elaborated:

      Just in terms of a judgment to do that, and him leaving
      messages and things like that, how poor the judgment is
      with that is consistent with mental illness.

      But the content, meaning the suspiciousness and
      expectations that he was being treated unfairly within the
      system by that judge, and then referenced to personal notes
      as well, is more suggestive of mental illness.

      This is the person deciding your fate, deciding at least in
      terms of your freedom, so to incite that situation with such

2 The state argues that we could affirm based on the defendant’s failure to prove
his mental health disorder required specialized treatment. We find no merit in
this argument. Dr. Brannon testified that schizo-affective disorder requires
specialized treatment involving medication and structured environments to help
the person continue to comply.

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      personal commentary, although not unheard of, in his
      particular case would be more consistent with his paranoid
      delusions.

The trial court did not make any findings regarding whether there was
competent substantial evidence supporting departure under section
921.0026(2)(c).

   For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court erred in making
a specific finding that it lacked discretion to depart downward with
respect to section 921.0026(2)(d) and further by failing to consider
whether the evidence supported departure under section 921.0026(2)(c).

   We reverse the defendant’s sentences and remand for further
proceedings before a different judge.

   Reversed and remanded for further proceedings before a different
judge.

MAY, J., and HARPER, BRADLEY, Associate Judge, concur.

                            *         *        *

   Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.

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