The State of Texas for the Best Interest and Protection of W.Y.--Appeal from County Court at Law of Cherokee County

NO. 12-02-00321-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS

THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR

 
APPEAL FROM THE

THE BEST INTEREST AND

 
COUNTY COURT AT LAW

PROTECTION OF W.Y.

 
CHEROKEE COUNTY, TEXASMEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant W.Y. appeals from an order of commitment for temporary inpatient mental health

services. After a hearing before a jury, the trial court ordered W.Y. committed to Terrell State Hospital for a period not to exceed ninety days. In six issues, W.Y. asserts the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the order, his constitutional rights to due process and equal protection have been violated, and he was denied effective assistance of counsel. We affirm.

 

Background

On October 7, 2002, an application for court-ordered temporary mental health services was filed requesting the court commit W.Y. to Terrell State Hospital for a period not to exceed ninety days. The application was supported by a certificate of medical examination for mental illness, prepared by a physician, Dr. Troy Caldwell, who had examined W.Y. on that day. Dr. Caldwell diagnosed W.Y. as suffering from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and indicated that W.Y. is mentally ill, likely to cause serious harm to himself, and is suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional or physical distress; is experiencing substantial mental or physical deterioration of his ability to function independently; and is unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment. He based this opinion on W.Y.'s pressured speech, grandiose and tangential thought processes, and hyper-religiosity. He indicated that on October 7, W.Y. said he was going to the bank to get "a Porsche and a couple of Benzes," that he is worth about two million dollars, he is a preacher, and he will go to 191 countries, where seven billion people will pay $25.00 for "the honor of his number."

On October 3, 2002, W.Y. was examined by Dr. Cira DeLeon who then also prepared a certificate of medical examination for mental illness. Dr. DeLeon also diagnosed W.Y. as suffering from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. She found that W.Y. is mentally ill and is likely to cause serious harm to himself and others, and is suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional and physical distress, is experiencing substantial mental or physical deterioration of his ability to function independently, and is unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether to submit to treatment. W.Y. had been under Dr. DeLeon's care for four months. During that time W.Y. made several statements which, in part, formed the basis of the doctor's opinion. W.Y. said, "I don't take medications . . . I've been talking to the people on TV and they have been talking to me . . . ;" "I can't take my medications unless I kill somebody;" "I have a special mission . . . those pills are poison;" and "I'm Jesus." In September 2002, W.Y. assaulted staff, threw feces on an officer, flooded his cell, and destroyed State property. Dr. DeLeon also determined that W.Y. presents a substantial risk of serious harm to himself or others if not immediately restrained, an opinion she based on W.Y.'s behavior and on evidence of severe emotional distress and deterioration in W.Y.'s mental condition to the extent he cannot remain at liberty. Dr. DeLeon based this opinion on the same statements and behavior described above.

Dr. Caldwell testified at the hearing. He explained that he is a psychiatrist employed by a correctional managed care organization that has a contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. His organization, Skyview Hospital, services the psychiatric needs of offenders. W.Y. was admitted to Jester IV Hospital, another psychiatric hospital in the Texas criminal justice system, on March 21, 2002 and transferred to Skyview in October. At the time, W.Y. was an inmate residing in the department of criminal justice's institutional division. The doctor stated that W.Y. suffers from schizoaffective disorder. He noted that W.Y. spoke in a rapid manner, with a lot of energy behind his speech. W.Y. told the doctor that he is worth two million dollars and, as soon as he gets out of prison, he plans to go to the bank and get a Porsche and a couple of "Benzs." Dr. Caldwell concluded that W.Y. had unrealistic social judgment about how to properly use whatever resources he had. W.Y. also told the doctor that he would go around the world preaching. W.Y. said "they" gave him a number to go around the world with, 191 countries have this number, these countries desire to receive the honor of his number, and seven billion people are going to pay $25.00 each for his number. The doctor deduced these to be delusions and stated that W.Y. might get himself into difficulties and cause harm to himself due to his delusions.

While speaking to Dr. Caldwell, W.Y. was grandiose, demonstrated a flippant attitude, and spoke in a rambling, non-sensical pattern. Dr. Caldwell explained that people with the type of mental problems W.Y. has typically also have problems of impulsive social judgment and, as a result, they can be unpredictable. W.Y. was not taking his prescribed medication so he was given injections of a long-acting medication. The day before the hearing, W.Y. told the doctor he planned to make contact with Oral Roberts and anticipated becoming friends with Mr. Roberts. He planned to preach on buses and sidewalks and use money collected from individuals who heard him preach to pay for his basic needs. W.Y. believes he has the gift of tongues, interpreting tongues, prophecy, and healing. He also believes he can raise the dead and that no deadly thing would harm him.

Dr. Caldwell also stated that, based on information he received since October 7, 2002, he believes W.Y. is likely to cause serious harm to others. On October 14, the day before the hearing, W.Y. said he hears messages over walkie talkies and the television and that if he got a message from the mafia to harm someone, he might do so. Dr. Caldwell concluded that W.Y. is hallucinating and might respond to his hallucinations by harming someone. The doctor stated that there is no less restrictive environment than the hospital that is appropriate for W.Y.

On cross-examination, Dr. Caldwell explained that W.Y.'s educational level is that of about fifth grade and his I.Q. is 78. Any self-harm or harm to others is more likely when W.Y. is not taking his medication. The doctor admitted that the officers guarding the cells sometimes carry walkie talkies. Dr. Caldwell testified that W.Y. has not attempted suicide or self-mutilation or attacked any guards since March 21. His condition has improved since being admitted to the hospital. W.Y. has the ability to dress himself and feed himself without assistance. He can take care of his personal hygiene without assistance. He can initiate conversation and answer questions.

On redirect, Dr. Caldwell explained that W.Y. has demonstrated the same pattern of abnormal symptoms since his admission to the Jester unit, with varying degrees of severity from time to time. There is also a continuing pattern of behavior of refusing his medication. W.Y. engaged in overt acts of vocalizations of the way he is thinking, including the statements about hearing voices and possibly hurting someone if a voice told him to. The doctor reiterated that W.Y. is unable to care for his basic needs, unable to keep a job and make an income, and therefore unable to obtain food for himself. Additionally, he is unable to make wise social judgments on the outside.

Dr. John Yarbrough, a psychologist at Skyview Hospital, testified about the results of an interview he had with W.Y. the day before the hearing. W.Y. told Dr. Yarbrough that, if he were released today, he might live on a reservation in New Mexico, go to the Salvation Army, or go to Oral Roberts' seminary. Dr. Yarbrough did not consider these to be realistic options because W.Y. had no plan for getting to any of these places. W.Y. believes he is a preacher and planned to spend Christmas with Oral Roberts and then take over Mr. Roberts' ministry when he retires. Again, Dr. Yarbrough believed this was unrealistic. When asked what he would do if not released, but sent to a State hospital, W.Y. told Dr. Yarbrough he would be very displeased with that and he would have to deal with that in some way at that time. Dr. Yarbrough did not believe W.Y. had even considered that the hearing would not go his way. The doctor was concerned about how W.Y. might react in light of his history of violence. He testified that the least restrictive environment appropriate for W.Y. is a State hospital because he is still in need of treatment. W.Y.'s mental illness is not in remission and he does not cooperate with his treatment team.

Dr. Yarbrough explained that W.Y. told him that the mafia had killed one of his children, he is a consultant for the mafia, and he gets messages from the mafia through walkie talkies. W.Y. said he would consider doing what the mafia told him to do, including hurting someone. W.Y. also said former President Clinton had killed one of his children. Dr. Yarbrough explained that W.Y. suffers from paranoid delusions and his statements regarding them constitute overt acts.

On cross-examination, Dr. Yarbrough admitted that W.Y. has not attempted to hurt himself while in the hospital, but in one instance, he kicked a door that an individual was standing beside. Dr. Yarbrough stated that W.Y. might be able to get a job sweeping floors, or washing windows, or handing out leaflets, but he did not know how long W.Y. would be able to hold a job. On redirect, Dr. Yarbrough testified that after reviewing W.Y.'s records, he was concerned about W.Y.'s pattern of behavior.

W.Y. took the witness stand in his own behalf. He offered to let each juror have five or twenty minutes to ask him ten questions apiece so they could get to know him. He told the jury he could find a job and a way to get to Oral Roberts University. He said he was willing to take his medication but there was no reason for him to be in a hospital. He has been in prison for ten years and he feels he should be going home. He said he does not want to hurt himself or anyone else. He is capable of dressing himself and feeding himself. He explained that if he were released he would take a bus to Oral Roberts University and apply to be a preacher. He said he has two trades, preaching and painting. He knows what to do if his house is on fire or if he broke a leg. He knows what to do if he gets hungry. If released, he would go to the Salvation Army or rent a room because his father is in jail and he does not know the location of other family members.

W.Y. denied getting messages from the mafia by walkie talkie. He explained that he is a mafia advisor regarding topics such as how often to wash your car, whether you need more exercise, and whether the mafia needs to kill fewer people and mind its own business sometimes. Whenever the mafia asks him for advice, he always gives it to them, like Ann Landers. At this point in the proceedings, W.Y. asked to borrow the trial judge's Bible and then read a long passage from Revelation, chapter twelve. He explained that the passage is about his life and the woman in the passage was with him in his cell while he was locked up. The woman had his baby, but the baby was killed. He stated that he is not crazy because Revelation is a real book. With the mafia's help, he hid the woman for a long time. She is no longer hidden away from the dragon and he is looking forward to seeing her again.

The jury found that W.Y. is mentally ill and is likely to cause serious harm to himself and others. It also found that, if not treated, he will continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress and will continue to experience deterioration of his ability to function independently. Finally, the jury found that W.Y. is unable to make a rational decision as to whether to submit to treatment. The trial court entered an order reflecting these findings and ordering W.Y. committed to Terrell State Hospital for inpatient care for a period not to exceed ninety days.

 

Sufficiency of the Evidence

In his first issue, W.Y. asserts the evidence is neither legally nor factually sufficient to support the order of commitment. He argues that Dr. Caldwell's conclusions that W.Y. could be harmed by acting on his delusional beliefs are insufficient to support commitment. Further, bare psychiatric opinion of a potential danger to others is insufficient to support a commitment. W.Y. also contends that, contrary to Dr. Caldwell's testimony, W.Y.'s words do not constitute a recent overt act and cannot justify his involuntary commitment. Evidence that W.Y. may be mentally ill does not satisfy the statutory standard. Additionally, W.Y.'s refusal to take his medication cannot be grounds for involuntary commitment. Therefore, he argues, the State failed to show a recent overt act or a continuing pattern of behavior tending to confirm the likelihood of serious harm to W.Y. or others, or of his distress and the deterioration of his ability to function. Thus, he argues, the State failed to meet its evidentiary burden under the statute.

In a legal sufficiency review where the burden of proof is clear and convincing evidence, the reviewing court must consider all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding to determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002). The reviewing court must assume that the factfinder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable factfinder could do so. Id. A court should disregard all evidence that a reasonable factfinder could have disbelieved or found to have been incredible. Id.

In addressing a factual sufficiency of the evidence challenge, this court must give due consideration to evidence that the factfinder could reasonably have found to be clear and convincing. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 25 (Tex. 2002). We must determine whether the evidence is such that a factfinder could reasonably form a firm belief or conviction about the truth of the State's allegations. Id. "If, in light of the entire record, the disputed evidence that a reasonable factfinder could not have credited in favor of the finding is so significant that a factfinder could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction, then the evidence is factually insufficient." In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 267.

The trial judge may order a proposed patient to receive court-ordered temporary inpatient mental health services if the judge or jury finds, from clear and convincing evidence, that the proposed patient is mentally ill and, as a result of the mental illness he is likely to cause serious harm to himself, is likely to cause serious harm to others, or is (i) suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress, (ii) experiencing substantial mental or physical deterioration of his ability to function independently, which is exhibited by his inability, except for reasons of indigence, to provide for his basic needs, including food, clothing, health, or safety, and (iii) unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment. Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. 574.034(a) (Vernon 2003). To be clear and convincing under this statute, the evidence must include expert testimony and, unless waived, evidence of a recent overt act or a continuing pattern of behavior that tends to confirm either the likelihood of serious harm to the proposed patient or others, or the proposed patient's distress and the deterioration of his ability to function. Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. 574.034(d) (Vernon 2003).

The State provided expert testimony explaining that W.Y. is mentally ill and describing overt acts by W.Y. which occurred in the month before the hearing. According to Dr. DeLeon's certificate of medical examination for mental illness, W.Y. assaulted staff members, threw feces on an officer, flooded his cell, and destroyed State property in September 2002. To the extent Dr. Caldwell's statement that W.Y. had not attacked any guards since March 21, 2002 conflicts with Dr. DeLeon's statement, we assume the jury disregarded the conflicting evidence. This expert testimony of overt acts tends to confirm the likelihood of serious harm to others. Dr. Caldwell described behaviors showing W.Y. has unrealistic social judgment based on delusional thinking. Such poor judgment could lead to harm to W.Y. Further, W.Y. might harm someone if he believes the mafia wants him to. The expert testimony of a continuing pattern of behavior tends to confirm the likelihood of serious harm to others and to W.Y.

Dr. Caldwell explained that W.Y. is unable to hold a job and is therefore unable to function independently as he cannot provide for his basic needs. Dr. Yarbrough also testified that W.Y. is delusional and does not cooperate with his treatment team. Considering all the evidence in the light most favorable to the findings, we conclude a reasonable trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction that these findings were true. See In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. This evidence satisfies the statutory requirement for clear and convincing evidence in support of the order for temporary inpatient mental health services. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. 574.034(d). The evidence is legally sufficient to support the trial court's order. See In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266.

In addressing W.Y.'s factual sufficiency complaint, we consider the evidence the factfinder could reasonably have found to be clear and convincing. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 25. W.Y. denied having the intent to hurt himself or anyone else. He also stated that, if released, he would take his medication. There was some evidence that W.Y. might be able to get a job, but other evidence casts doubt on whether he could function in the workplace or keep a job. While W.Y. explained his plan for getting to Oral Roberts University, the jury also heard evidence that W.Y.'s educational level is that of about fifth grade and he has an IQ of 78. Thus, his plan to attend the university seems unrealistic. The conflicting evidence about whether he had attacked any guards since March 21 is not so significant that the jury could not have formed a firm belief that W.Y. is likely to cause serious harm to others. In light of the entire record, we cannot say that the jury could not reasonably form a firm belief or conviction that W.Y. is likely to cause harm to himself and others, that he is distressed, and that his ability to function has deteriorated, thereby requiring inpatient mental health services. See id. Thus, the evidence is factually sufficient to support the jury's findings. Because we hold the evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court's order, we overrule W.Y.'s first issue.

 

Constitutional Claims

In his second and third issues, W.Y. contends the trial court erred in rendering judgment in violation of state and federal guarantees of due process. He asserts that certain terms found in section 574.034 of the Health and Safety Code are overly broad, vague, and ambiguous so the statute is susceptible to a variety of interpretations, making it violative of the due process clause of each constitution. In his fourth and fifth issues, he asserts that application of section 574.034 results in a violation of his right to equal protection under both the state and federal constitutions.

W.Y. did not complain to the trial court that his state and federal constitutional rights to due process and equal protection were being violated. A constitutional claim must have been asserted in the trial court to be raised on appeal. Dreyer v. Greene, 871 S.W.2d 697, 698 (Tex. 1993). Therefore, W.Y. has not preserved these complaints for review. We overrule W.Y.'s issues two, three, four, and five.

 

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

In his sixth issue, W.Y. contends he was denied effective assistance of counsel because trial counsel failed to object to the constitutionality of the applicable statutes. He argues that this resulted in his being subjected to unconstitutional statutes at trial and the loss of relief due to waiver on appeal.

The United States Supreme Court has established a two-part test, also adopted by Texas courts, to determine whether the representation of counsel was effective. The defendant must show that (1) counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the results of the proceedings would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687-88, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674 (1984). Counsel is presumed to have rendered adequate assistance and made all significant decisions in the exercise of reasonable professional judgment. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S. Ct. at 2065. The appellant has the burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel claims by a preponderance of the evidence. Jackson v. State, 973 S.W.2d 954, 956 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel must be supported by the record. See Mercado v. State, 615 S.W.2d 225, 228 (Tex. Crim. App. [Panel Op.] 1981). When the record contains no evidence of the reasoning behind counsel's conduct, we cannot conclude counsel's performance was deficient. Jackson v. State, 877 S.W.2d 768, 771 (Tex. Crim. App. 1994).

The record is silent as to counsel's trial strategy. We have no evidence from counsel's perspective concerning whether he considered challenging the constitutionality of section 574.034 and, if so, the reasons he decided not to. Therefore, we are unable to determine that the failure to raise those issues in the trial court constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. Jackson, 877 S.W.2d at 771. W.Y. has failed to show that his counsel's performance fell below the objective standard of reasonableness. Further, even if we agreed that trial counsel's performance was deficient, W.Y. has failed to make any showing that he was prejudiced as a result. W.Y. alludes to the fact that, had counsel made the objections, the trial court might have agreed with him. However, he presents no authority from which we can determine that counsel's constitutional challenges, if raised, would have been sustained by the trial court. W.Y. has failed to show that there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different but for the alleged error made by counsel. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S. Ct. at 2068. W.Y. has failed to meet his burden of proving ineffective assistance of counsel. Jackson, 973 S.W.2d at 956. Accordingly, we overrule W.Y.'s sixth issue.

 

Conclusion

The evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court's order of commitment for temporary inpatient mental health services. W.Y.'s constitutional complaints have not been preserved and his trial counsel was not ineffective.

We affirm the trial court's order of commitment for temporary inpatient mental health services.

 

DIANE DEVASTO

Justice

 

Opinion delivered August 29, 2003.

Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Griffith, J., and DeVasto, J.

 
(PUBLISH)