People v. Roark CA1/2 ( 2020 )


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  • Filed 11/19/20 P. v. Roark CA1/2
    Opinion following transfer from Supreme Court
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or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
    FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
    DIVISION TWO
    THE PEOPLE,
    Plaintiff and Respondent,
    A151503
    v.
    DAHESI NIGEL ROARK,                                                    (Solano County
    Super. Ct. No. VCR222819)
    Defendant and Appellant.
    Defendant Dahesi Nigel Roark was convicted of first degree residential
    robbery and found to have multiple prior serious or violent felony convictions.
    Almost a year after trial but before sentencing, defense counsel expressed
    doubt as to Roark’s competence “moving forward,” and the trial court ordered
    two psychological evaluations. At a subsequent hearing on the matter,
    defense counsel submitted the issue of competence on the psychologists’
    reports, and the trial court found Roark competent. Roark was sentenced to
    30 years to life in prison.
    Roark appealed, arguing (1) there was insufficient evidence to support
    the trial court’s finding of competence and (2) the court erred in failing to
    refer him to the regional center for the developmentally disabled (Regional
    Center) for assessment. We rejected Roark’s arguments and affirmed the
    judgment on September 27, 2018. (People v. Roark (Sept. 27, 2018, A151503)
    [nonpub. opn.].)
    1
    Roark petitioned for rehearing, asserting rehearing was required to
    address the availability of newly enacted Penal Code1 section 1001.36, which
    created a pretrial diversion program for persons with certain mental health
    disorders. We denied the petition for rehearing on October 25, 2018. Roark
    then petitioned for review in the California Supreme Court, arguing, among
    other things, that he was entitled to remand to the trial court to seek mental
    health diversion under section 1001.36.
    On January 16, 2019, the Supreme Court granted Roark’s petition for
    review and deferred further action pending its decision in People v. Frahs,
    which was filed on June 18, 2020. (People v. Frahs (2020) 
    9 Cal. 5th 618
    (Frahs).)
    On August 19, 2020, the Supreme Court directed us to vacate our prior
    decision and to reconsider the cause in light of Frahs. Accordingly, we vacate
    our decision of September 27, 2018, and, upon reconsideration, we
    conditionally reverse the judgment of conviction and remand to the trial court
    to determine in the first instance whether Roark is eligible for mental health
    diversion under section 1001.36. The Supreme Court’s order does not affect
    any other aspect of our prior decision, and we again reject Roark’s claims of
    error in the competency determination.
    BACKGROUND
    In March 2016, a jury found Roark guilty of first degree residential
    robbery and found true the allegation the residence was inhabited. In a
    subsequent court trial, the court found Roark had three prior serious felony
    convictions within the meaning of section 667, subdivision(a)(1), three prior
    1   Further undesignated statutory references are to the Penal Code.
    2
    serious or violent felony convictions within the meaning of section 667,
    subdivisions (b)–(i), and had served three prior prison terms (§ 667.5).
    On March 6, 2017, the date scheduled for judgment and sentencing,
    defense counsel filed a Romero2 motion to strike Roark’s prior convictions
    arguing, among other things, that evidence of Roark’s developmental
    disability justified dismissal of his prior “strike” convictions.3 In a
    declaration filed in support of the Romero motion, neuropsychologist Dr.
    Howard Friedman stated that he had examined Roark in 2001 and offered
    his opinion at that time that Roark was developmentally disabled. More
    recently, Friedman evaluated Roark in July and September 2016 and
    concluded Roark continued to have a mild intellectual disability. He found
    Roark “functions equivalent to a 5 year old regarding his language
    comprehension.”4
    At the court hearing that day, defense counsel also raised a doubt as to
    Roark’s competence. He told the court, “There’s another issue, your Honor,
    based upon my filings and my interaction with Mr. Roark for over several
    years’ period of time, and my review of the case law, I think it’s prudent to
    2   People v. Superior Court (Romero) (1996) 
    13 Cal. 4th 497
    (Romero).
    3There was a long delay between Roark’s conviction and sentencing
    because Roark was facing a life sentence under the Three-Strikes Law, and
    defense counsel requested and was granted repeated continuances to give
    counsel time to prepare a Romero motion.
    4Friedman did not expressly opine that Roark was incompetent to be
    sentenced, but he wrote in a letter attached to the Romero motion, “There are
    questionable elements of his competency. In particular, he has limitations
    with any understanding of legal concepts and facts. . . . He is simplistic in his
    reasoning and how he can apply his limited knowledge base to any rational
    understanding of the legal situation. [Roark’s c]apacity to assist [his]
    attorney is limited by virtue of his poor intellectual functioning as, again, his
    thinking is quite simplistic and repetitive.”
    3
    declare a doubt about his competency moving forward. I think, based upon
    his long history of developmental disability, I think we should probably have
    this thing sent to the Regional Center for evaluation as to whether or not he
    is or is not developmentally disabled.”
    The court asked whether Roark had been a client of the Regional
    Center before. Defense counsel responded no, but “I reviewed the case law, I
    think based upon my analysis, knowing what I know, I don’t want this thing
    to come back for a retro grade [sic] competency.”
    The court stated, “I think I need to do the standard process. In the
    event through the standard process, the traditional process we determine
    that additional steps, as a result of disability are in order, we take those
    steps. But if he’s never been a Regional Center client, I’m not going to do
    that at this point. Can we stipulate to one doctor or do you want two?”
    Defense counsel asked for two evaluators.
    The court suspending criminal proceedings and appointed Drs.
    O’Meara and Nakagawa to evaluate Roark.
    Both court-appointed psychologists interviewed Roark and concluded
    he was competent. After the psychologists submitted their reports, at a
    hearing on April 6, 2017, defense counsel and the prosecutor submitted on
    the reports. Defense counsel also said, “I reviewed both Dr. O’Meara and the
    other doctor’s report this morning and it appears he’s competent.” Relying on
    the doctors’ reports, the trial court reinstated criminal proceedings and
    eventually sentenced Roark.
    DISCUSSION
    A.    Sufficiency of the Evidence
    “A defendant who is mentally incompetent cannot be tried or adjudged
    to punishment. (§ 1367, subd. (a); Pate v. Robinson (1966) 
    383 U.S. 375
    , 378.)
    4
    A defendant is mentally incompetent to stand trial if, as a result of mental
    disorder or developmental disability, the defendant is ‘unable to understand
    the nature of the criminal proceedings or to assist counsel in the conduct of a
    defense in a rational manner.’ (§ 1367, subd. (a).) The defendant has the
    burden of proving incompetency by a preponderance of the evidence. (§ 1369,
    subd. (f); People v. Medina (1990) 
    51 Cal. 3d 870
    , 881–886.” (People v.
    Marshall (1997) 
    15 Cal. 4th 1
    , 31.)
    Roark contends there was no substantial evidence to support the
    court’s finding that he was competent. We review the trial court’s finding “for
    support by substantial evidence in the record—that is, for evidence that is
    reasonable, credible, and of solid value.” (People v. Jackson (2018) 
    22 Cal. App. 5th 374
    , 392.)
    Here, two psychologists evaluated Roark in person and submitted
    reports to the court concluding he was competent. Dr. Janice Nakagawa
    interviewed Roark at the county jail on March 29, 2017. He was then 36
    years old. Roark reported that he was in special education classes from
    seventh grade until he left school in tenth grade “ ‘because of drugs.’ ” He
    stated he “ ‘was on SSI since [he] was a kid’ ” because “ ‘they said [he] was
    mentally retarded . . . .’ ” Roark said he was designated “DD1” in jail, which
    referred to the presence of developmental delays or disability. Nakagawa
    found “[c]ognitively, [Roark’s] fund of information was limited. . . . Verbal
    abstraction abilities (his understanding of how two items are alike) were
    grossly intact but he tended to be simplistic and concrete in thinking . . . .
    Overall, intellectual functioning was estimated to be in the borderline range.”
    Nakagawa gave her opinion that Roark was competent. She found,
    “with respect to his understanding of various aspects of criminal proceedings,
    it was evident that Mr. Roark did not have any difficulties. He was able to
    5
    identify various pleas such as guilty, not guilty, as well as roles and functions
    of courtroom officials. He was also able to demonstrate understanding of his
    rights and responsibilities as a defendant.” By his own admission, Roark
    knew he had been found guilty of robbery by a jury and a life sentence was
    possible. (Nakagawa noted Roark said, “ ‘Maybe I’m looking at 3 strikes—I
    don’t know—I’m confused.’ ”) She wrote, “Despite his voiced confusion, [my]
    impression was that there was no notable difficulties about his
    understanding due to any mental health problems. With respect to
    competency issues, Mr. Roark certainly is able to understand the nature and
    purpose of proceedings being taken against him and he can assist counsel in
    matters pertaining to his case.” (Italics added.)
    Dr. Kathleen O’Meara interviewed Roark at the county jail on March
    31, 2017. In preparation for the interview, she reviewed the criminal
    complaints, his probation presentence report, and his jail medical/psychiatric
    chart. She noted that Roark’s reading skills were poor and “he gets help from
    others when he needs to comprehend written material.” She also noted that
    he served 11 years in prison for a prior robbery “during which time he was
    identified as suffering a mild developmental disability (DD1) and requiring
    mental health case management.” O’Meara wrote that Roark identified the
    charges against him and that he knew he could serve a lengthy prison term
    “if convicted.” He knew it was “possibly a third strike.” Roark also believed
    his competency “was being questioned because ‘I’m developmentally
    disabled.’ ”5
    5Roark argues O’Meara mistakenly believed his trial was pending
    when she interviewed him. The record on this point is ambiguous. O’Meara
    read the probation presentence report before meeting Roark, but she also
    noted that Roark faced a lengthy prison term “if convicted.”
    6
    O’Meara gave her opinion that Roark was competent to stand trial.
    She wrote, “He has an adequate appreciation of the nature and purpose of the
    proceedings taken against him and he is capable of cooperating rationally
    with counsel in preparing his defense.” O’Meara noted that Roark
    understood the roles of his attorney, the district attorney, the judge, and
    witnesses. She continued, “The defendant appears to be of below average
    intellectual functioning. However, he does understand the nature of the
    charges against him and that he faces a possible serious penalty involving
    prison confinement. . . . He appears capable of providing reasonable
    assistance to his attorney.”
    Defense counsel was entitled to offer evidence in support of his
    allegation of mental incompetence and to offer testimony to rebut the court-
    appointed evaluators, but he chose not to. (§ 1369, subd. (b)–(d).)
    “[A] single witness may establish any fact. [Citations.] It is ‘not the
    role of this court to redetermine the credibility of experts or to reweigh the
    relative strength of their conclusions.’ ” (People v. Kirvin (2014) 
    231 Cal. App. 4th 1507
    , 1514 (Kirvin).) The reports of Drs. Nakagawa and
    O’Meara provide substantial evidence for the trial court’s determination that
    Roark was competent to be sentenced.
    For the first time on appeal, Roark challenges both doctors’ evaluations
    based on “absence of any evidence that either O’Meara or Nakagawa was
    qualified to opine whether [Roark] had an intellectual disability and whether
    that disability rendered [him] incompetent.” These challenges fail because
    “defendants may not attack the validity of expert reports to which they
    submit with arguments they did not present to the trial court.” 
    (Kirvin, supra
    , 231 Cal.App.4th at p. 1514.) This is because “unlike the adjudication
    of criminal guilt, which presumes a defendant’s innocence and places the
    7
    burden of proof on the state, [a] defendant is presumed competent.” (People
    v. Blacksher (2011) 
    52 Cal. 4th 769
    , 797 (Blacksher).) When the issue of
    competency is raised, the defendant assumes the burden of proof. (Ibid.,
    citing §§ 1096, 1369, subd. (f).) “Under these circumstances, by failing to
    object below, [the] defendant deprive[s] the prosecution of the opportunity to
    rebut any objections with evidence supporting the presumption of
    competency. (Ibid.)
    At the hearing on April 6, 2017, defense counsel could have objected to
    the evaluators’ reports on the grounds he raises now. In response, the
    prosecution could have presented evidence of the psychologists’ qualifications
    and called them as witnesses to opine more specifically on how Roark’s
    developmental or intellectual disability affected his competency. (§ 1369,
    subd. (c).) But having failed to raise these objections at trial, Roark has
    forfeited these claims on appeal. (See 
    Blacksher, supra
    , 52 Cal.4th at pp.
    797–798 [where defendant submitted the question of competency on doctors’
    reports, he forfeited appellate claim that the trial court erred in relying on
    allegedly insufficient reports]; People v. Weaver (2001) 
    26 Cal. 4th 876
    , 904
    [“To the extent defendant attempts to impugn the validity of the appointed
    experts’ conclusions . . ., the time to raise such a challenge has long since
    passed. Having submitted the competency determination on the two
    psychiatric reports, defendant may not now relitigate that question with
    arguments he did not make below”].)
    In short, the two psychologists’ reports in the record are sufficient
    evidence of competence, and Roark has forfeited his challenges to the
    psychologists’ qualifications and assessments.
    8
    B.    Failing to Refer Roark to the Regional Center
    Next, Roark argues the trial court erred in refusing to refer him to the
    Regional Center for evaluation.
    Section 1369 governs the conduct of a trial on mental competence.
    Subdivision (a), of the statute provides in relevant part, “The court shall
    appoint a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist, and any other expert the court
    may deem appropriate, to examine the defendant. . . . The examining
    psychiatrists or licensed psychologists shall evaluate the nature of the
    defendant’s mental disorder, if any, the defendant’s ability or inability to
    understand the nature of the criminal proceedings or assist counsel in the
    conduct of a defense in a rational manner as a result of a mental
    disorder . . . . If it is suspected the defendant is developmentally disabled, the
    court shall appoint the director of the regional center for the developmentally
    disabled established under Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of
    the Welfare and Institutions Code, or the designee of the director, to examine
    the defendant.” (Italics added.)
    Our Supreme Court has recognized that an error in failing to appoint
    the director of the Regional Center or her designee is not a jurisdictional
    error that necessarily requires reversal of an ensuing judgment. (People v.
    Leonard (2007) 
    40 Cal. 4th 1370
    , 1389.) In Leonard, the defendant Leonard
    had epilepsy, a developmental disability, and the trial court did not appoint
    the director of the Regional Center to examine him as required under section
    1369 when a doubt was raised as to Leonard’s competence. (Id. at p. 1388.)
    Leonard argued this statutory violation required reversal of his subsequent
    conviction and death sentence, but the Supreme Court disagreed. Rather, the
    court held Leonard’s ensuing convictions and sentence “need not be reversed
    unless the error deprived him of a fair trial to determine his competency.”
    9
    (Id. at p. 1390.) The court concluded the failure to appoint the director of the
    Regional Center to examine Leonard did not prejudice him because he was
    evaluated by doctors who were experienced in the field of developmental
    disabilities. (Id. at p. 1391.)
    Here, we see no prejudice resulting from the trial court’s denial of the
    request for a referral to the Regional Center. The trial court did not foreclose
    the possibility of referring Roark to the Regional Center at a later date. To
    the contrary, the court indicated that if the appointed psychologists’
    evaluations revealed that such a referral was “in order, we [will] take those
    steps.” At the April 6, 2017, hearing, defense counsel could have argued the
    two evaluators’ reports were inadequate (or argued that the reports
    confirmed Roark had a developmental disability that required further
    evaluation) and renewed his request for a referral to the Regional Center if
    he believed it was necessary to fairly assess Roark’s competence. But defense
    counsel chose to submit on the reports instead. As we have seen, Roark was
    interviewed and evaluated by two psychologists who were aware of his
    limited intellectual functioning and prior designation as developmentally
    disabled and nonetheless concluded he was competent, and defense counsel,
    after reviewing their reports, agreed “it appears he’s competent.” On this
    record, we cannot say the trial court’s initial denial of the request for a
    referral to the Regional Center deprived Roark of a fair trial to determine his
    competency.
    C.    Remand Under Frahs
    “In June 2018, the Legislature enacted Penal Code sections 1001.35
    and 1001.36, which created a pretrial diversion program for certain
    defendants with mental health disorders. (Stats. 2018, ch. 34, § 24.)” 
    (Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at p. 624, fn. omitted.) The statutes apply retroactively;
    10
    diversion is therefore available to defendants like Roark whose judgments
    were not final when the statutes took effect. (Ibid.)
    Subdivision (b) of section 1001.36 specifies six criteria required for a
    trial court to grant pretrial diversion. The first is “[t]he court is satisfied that
    the defendant suffers from a mental disorder as identified in the most recent
    edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM],
    . . . excluding antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder,
    and pedophilia.” (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(A).)6
    Roark first sought the benefit of section 1001.36 in a petition for
    rehearing filed October 11, 2018. He asserted he suffered from an
    intellectual disability or intellectual development disorder, either of which is
    a qualifying mental disorder in the most recent edition of the DSM, and he
    sought remand to allow the trial court to consider whether to grant diversion.
    In opposition to Roark’s petition for rehearing, respondent urged that
    section 1001.36 was not retroactive (a position that has since been rejected in
    
    Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at p. 624.). In addition, he argued that, even
    assuming the law was retroactive, remand to the trial court would be futile in
    6 “As originally enacted, section 1001.36 provided that a trial court may
    grant pretrial diversion if it finds all of the following: (1) the defendant
    suffers from a qualifying mental disorder; (2) the disorder played a
    significant role in the commission of the charged offense; (3) the defendant’s
    symptoms will respond to mental health treatment; (4) the defendant
    consents to diversion and waives his or her speedy trial right; (5) the
    defendant agrees to comply with treatment; and (6) the defendant will not
    pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety if treated in the
    community. (Former § 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)-(6).) Section 1001.36 was
    subsequently amended by Senate Bill No. 215 (2017-2018 Reg. Sess.) (Senate
    Bill 215) to specify that defendants charged with certain crimes, such as
    murder and rape, are ineligible for diversion. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(2), as
    amended by Stats. 2018, ch. 1005, § 1.)” 
    (Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at pp. 626–
    627.)
    11
    this case because Roark did not meet two of the statutory criteria for
    diversion. First, respondent claimed, “nothing in the trial evidence suggests
    that [Roark]’s alleged developmental disability played a significant role in the
    charged crime.”7 Second, he argued, “there is no reasonable probability that
    the trial court would find [Roark] ‘will not pose an unreasonable risk of
    danger to public safety’ if granted diversion . . . .”8 Respondent did not
    dispute that an intellectual disability is a qualifying disorder under section
    1001.36, however.
    As mentioned, we denied Roark’s petition for rehearing, the Supreme
    Court then granted Roark’s petition for review, and the high court has now
    directed this court to reconsider in light of Frahs.
    Respondent stands by his position stated in opposition to the petition
    for rehearing that remand in this case would be futile. In a one-page letter to
    this court dated September 2, 2020, he reiterates, “there is no reasonable
    probability that the superior court would deem [Roark] a suitable candidate
    for pretrial diversion . . . .”
    In a letter brief dated October 6, 2020, Roark expands on his position.
    He relies on Frahs, in which our high court held, “a conditional limited
    7This corresponds with the second criterion to qualify for diversion
    that “[t]he court is satisfied that the defendant’s mental disorder was a
    significant factor in the commission of the charged offense.” (§ 1001.36, subd.
    (b)(1)(B).)
    8The sixth criterion to qualify for diversion is “[t]he court is satisfied
    that the defendant will not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public
    safety, as defined in Section 1170.18, if treated in the community. The court
    may consider the opinions of the district attorney, the defense, or a qualified
    mental health expert, and may consider the defendant’s violence and criminal
    history, the current charged offense, and any other factors that the court
    deems appropriate.” (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(F).)
    12
    remand for the trial court to conduct a mental health diversion eligibility
    hearing is warranted when . . . the record affirmatively discloses that the
    defendant appears to meet at least the first threshold eligibility requirement
    for mental health diversion — the defendant suffers from a qualifying mental
    disorder. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(A).)” 
    (Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at p. 640.)
    Here, the record includes a letter from neuropsychologist Dr. Howard
    Friedman in which he concluded defendant “continues to present as having a
    Mild Intellectual Disability” based on testing and observation of defendant
    conducted on July 26 and September 21, 2016. Intellectual disability is
    identified as a type of neurodevelopmental disorder in the 5th edition of the
    DSM. Accordingly, the record affirmatively discloses that Roark “appears to
    meet at least the first threshold eligibility requirement for mental health
    diversion” in that he appears to suffer from a qualifying mental disorder.
    
    (Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at p. 640.) It appears, therefore, that “a conditional
    limited remand for the trial court to conduct a mental health diversion
    eligibility hearing is warranted” under Frahs. (Ibid.)
    Respondent’s arguments against remand do not convince us otherwise.
    He argues the record does not show Roark’s mental disorder played a
    significant role in the charged crime (the second statutory requirement for
    diversion). The Frahs court, however, rejected the argument that a
    defendant must demonstrate he meets all six threshold eligibility
    requirements under section 1001.36 to qualify for remand. The court
    explained, “[I]mposing such a high bar in the posture of proceedings such as
    these would be unduly onerous and impractical. When, as here, a defendant
    was tried and convicted before section 1001.36 became effective, the record on
    appeal is unlikely to include information pertaining to several eligibility
    factors . . . .” 
    (Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at p. 638.) “Furthermore, requiring
    13
    defendants to show they would meet all threshold eligibility requirements
    before the appellate court may remand the case to the trial court—which
    decides in the first instance whether a defendant is eligible for diversion—
    would be inconsistent with any sensible retroactive application of the statute.
    That, in turn, would run counter to our usual inference that the Legislature
    intends ameliorative statutes like this one to apply as broadly as possible
    within the constraints of finality . . . .” (Ibid.) Given our high court’s
    reasoning, we will not hold it against Roark that the record may not show his
    mental disorder played a significant role in the charged crime. Roark cannot
    be expected to have submitted such evidence before the pretrial diversion law
    was enacted.
    Respondent also claims it is not reasonably probable the trial court
    would find Roark meets the sixth statutory requirement for diversion—that
    he “will not pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety . . . if treated
    in the community.” (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(F).) The Frahs court specifically
    did “not address the question of whether an appellate court may . . . decline a
    defendant’s remand request when the record clearly indicates the trial court
    would have found the defendant ‘pose[s] an unreasonable risk of danger to
    public safety’ ([§ 1001.36], subd. (b)(1)(F)) and is therefore ineligible for
    diversion.” (9 Cal.5th at p. 640, italics added.) Although the trial court
    denied the Romero motion, describing the charged crime as “an
    extraordinarily frightening thing where clearly the threat of violence was
    present,” respondent has not pointed to anything in the record that clearly
    indicates the trial court would have found Roark poses an unreasonable risk
    of danger to the community if treated in the community. Roark points out
    that, for a defendant to qualify for diversion, a qualified mental health expert
    must opine that “the defendant’s symptoms of the mental disorder motivating
    14
    the criminal behavior would respond to mental health treatment” and the
    defendant must consent to diversion and agree to comply with treatment.
    (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(C), (D), and (F).) Roark argues it is not possible for
    this court to say how the trial court would assess risk of danger to the public
    if treatment were endorsed by a mental health professional and agreed to by
    him. And, in any event, we have read the transcript of the sentencing
    hearing, and we cannot say it clearly indicates the trial court would not grant
    diversion if given the opportunity to exercise its discretion, although that
    does not appear likely given some of its comments.9
    DISPOSITION
    The judgment is conditionally reversed, and the matter is remanded to
    the trial court with directions to conduct a mental health diversion eligibility
    hearing under section 1001.36. We express no opinion as to whether
    defendant will be able to show eligibility or whether the trial court should
    exercise its discretion to grant diversion if defendant makes the required
    showing. We remand with the instructions set forth in Frahs: “ ‘If the trial
    court finds that [defendant] suffers from a mental disorder, does not pose an
    9 The court said, in denying the Romero motion (which was based on
    developmental disability and drug abuse as mitigating factors), “[T]here’s
    something to be said for Mr. Roark being proof of the failure of our systems
    because all that diagnosis [of developmental disability since 2001], those . . .
    conditions were all known before he was sent to the California Department of
    Corrections that did absolutely nothing to protect society by empowering him
    with any skills, by applying techniques that perhaps would have increased
    his chances to have success upon his release. So, I think there’s a lot of
    things wrong with a lot of things we do. But the one thing I don’t—I think
    the Court has discretion to find circumstances of developmental disability
    that it ought to exercise its di[sc]rection. This is not one of those cases. The
    fact that the offense occurred so briefly after he was released, the violence
    involved in this particular offense, kind of sad all around. But I’m not going
    to exercise my discretion and strike any of the strikes.”
    15
    unreasonable risk of danger to public safety, and otherwise meets the six
    statutory criteria (as nearly as possible given the postconviction procedural
    posture of this case), then the court may grant diversion. If [defendant]
    successfully completes diversion, then the court shall dismiss the charges.
    However, if the court determines that [defendant] does not meet the criteria
    under section 1001.36, or if [defendant] does not successfully complete
    diversion, then his convictions and sentence shall be reinstated.’ ” 
    (Frahs, supra
    , 9 Cal.5th at p. 641.)
    16
    _________________________
    Miller, J.
    We concur:
    _________________________
    Kline, P.J.
    _________________________
    Richman, J.
    A151503, People v. Roark
    17