People v. Schweitzer CA3 ( 2023 )

Filed 12/28/23 P. v. Schweitzer CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Siskiyou)
----
THE PEOPLE, C096958
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No.
SCCRCRF20161304 &
v. SCCRCRF20171251 )
SCOTT ALLEN SCHWEITZER,
Defendant and Appellant.
Defendant Scott Allen Schweitzer was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2018
after pleading no contest or guilty to various crimes, including three counts of assault
with two great bodily injury enhancements, one count of failure to appear, and two counts
of possession of drugs, alcohol, or controlled substances while in prison. On remand in
2022 from a previous appeal, the trial court denied defendant’s petition for mental health
diversion under Penal Code section 1001.36 (“the 2022 version of section 1001.36”),
concluding his diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was not a significant
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factor in the commission of the offenses. (All further undesignated section references are
to the Penal Code.)
In January 2023, an amendment to section 1001.36 took effect and created a
presumption that a defendant’s mental disorder was a significant factor in the defendant’s
commission of the offenses. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(2) (“the 2023 version of section
1001.36”); People v. Doron (2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 1, 8 (Doron).) To rebut that
presumption, there must be clear and convincing evidence that the disorder was not a
motivating, causal, or contributing factor to the defendant’s involvement in the alleged
offense. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(2); Doron, at p. 8.)
Defendant contends we should reverse and remand for the trial court to reconsider
his application for diversion under the 2023 version of section 1001.36. Alternatively, he
contends the trial court abused its discretion in denying his petition under the 2022
version of section 1001.36. We agree with defendant’s primary argument and need not
address the alternative. We reverse and remand for the trial court to consider defendant’s
application under the 2023 version of section 1001.36.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
We summarize the factual and procedural background from our opinion in
defendant’s previous appeal, People v. Schweitzer (Oct. 13, 2020, C086895) [nonpub.
opn.] (Schweitzer), the record of which was incorporated by reference in this appeal at
defendant’s request.
“In a plea proceeding, defendant . . . [pled] no contest or guilty to assault with a
deadly weapon with a great bodily injury enhancement ([]§§ 245, subd. (a)(1), 12022.7,
subd. (a)), and two counts of brandishing a deadly weapon (§ 417, subd. (a)(1)). In a
subsequent plea proceeding, he [pled] guilty to two counts of assault by means likely to
produce great bodily injury (§ 245, subd. (a)(4)), possession of a controlled substance in
jail (§ 4573.6), two counts of possession of alcohol in jail (§ 4573.8), felony failure to
appear (§ 1320, subd. (b)), five counts of resisting an officer (§ 148, subd. (a)(1)), battery
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(§ 242), possession of a controlled substance (Health & Saf. Code, § 11377, subd. (a)),
[and] misdemeanor failure to appear (§ 1320, subd. (a)), and [he] admitted great bodily
injury and strike allegations (§§ 12022.7, subd. (a), 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d), 667, subds.
(b)-(i)).” (Schweitzer, supra, C086895.) Defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
(Ibid.)
Defendant appealed to this court, contending his conviction should be
conditionally reversed and the matter remanded to allow proceedings under the recently
enacted section 1001.36 pretrial mental health diversion program. (Schweitzer, supra,
C086895.) A panel of this court affirmed the conviction, but the California Supreme
Court transferred the matter back given its decision in People v. Frahs (2020) 9 Cal.5th
618). (Schweitzer, supra, C086895.) The panel then conditionally reversed the judgment
and remanded it back to the trial court for an eligibility determination under section
1001.36. (Ibid.)
On April 12, 2022, defendant filed a petition in the trial court for section 1001.36
diversion. In support of the petition, defendant provided a mental health assessment
prepared by licensed professional clinical counselor Rose Smith. Ms. Smith recounted
that defendant “has a history of violence,” that he “continued to be violent while in the
Siskiyou County jail,” and that “his history indicates he is a risk to others.” As to
defendant’s history of trauma or exposure to trauma, Ms. Smith stated that defendant was
neglected by his mom, separated from his dad as a child, and shot in the neck in 2013.
The 2013 shooting causes “constant trauma,” including medical trauma: He was in a
coma for 21 days, could not move for two months after the coma, had a stroke that still
impacts his left side, and his memory was impacted.
Ms. Smith reported that defendant described one of his assaults as a response to
being bullied. Specifically, defendant stated that “every time he saw [the victim], [the
victim] would bully him and take his stuff” and that defendant “was still messed up from
getting shot” and “was sensitive from getting attacked.” Defendant said he ran from the
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police the next day “because he was thinking that the cops would try to kill him.” As to
defendant’s assaults while in jail, defendant reported that (1) he and another cellmate got
into a fist fight after “his cellmate stole a candy bar” and (2) another fist fight occurred
when another guy told him that “he needed to start giving him his medication.”
Ms. Smith diagnosed defendant with both PTSD and antisocial disorder. As to
PTSD, she reported that “when he was [shot]1 he had the threat of death, he directly
experienced the event. He continues to have intrusive symptoms, having recurrent
nightmares about the event. . . . He has alterations in arousal and reactivity associated
with the event, including hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response. He has
experienced these symptoms since he was [shot] in 2013.” As to the antisocial disorder,
Ms. Smith stated that defendant “has had a failure to conform to social norms with
respect to lawful behaviors, as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds
for arrest” and “indicated by causing bodily injury on another inmate while in jail.”
Ms. Smith stated that defendant was “currently getting [mental health] treatment,”
including “therapy every two weeks” and “medication every few months.” According to
Ms. Smith, defendant appeared to be “doing well in the structured environment of pelican
bay prison” and is “engaged in group activities there.” She recommended that he
“continue with his treatment” and responded, “Yes” to whether defendant has a
significant impairment and to whether he would benefit from the proposed intervention
by significantly diminishing the impairment. In a document entitled “Mental Health
Diversion Psychological Assessment Summary,” Ms. Smith responded, “No” to the
question, “Does the Defendant’s mental health diagnosis appear to be related to the crime
he/she has been charged with?” She also selected “No” to the question, “Would the
1 The People do not dispute that Ms. Smith mistakenly referred to the 2013 shooting
as a stabbing.
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defendant’s mental disorder symptoms, that motivated the criminal behavior, respond to
mental health treatment?”
In July 2022, the court denied the diversion petition. The court reasoned that
while defendant’s PTSD was a qualifying offense under the statute, there was not “that
nexus, the significant factor between the [PTSD] and the criminality.” Defendant timely
appealed.
DISCUSSION
Section 1001.36 was enacted in 2018 and “authorizes pretrial diversion for
defendants with qualifying mental disorders.” (People v. Braden (2023) 14 Cal.5th 791,
801.) Such qualifying disorders include, but are not limited to, “bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or [PTSD].” (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(1).)2 “If
mental health diversion is granted and the defendant satisfactorily completes the court’s
approved mental health treatment program, then the defendant’s criminal charges are
required to be dismissed and the defendant’s arrest on the charges ‘shall be deemed never
to have occurred.’ ” (People v. Gerson (2022) 80 Cal.App.5th 1067, 1078.)
When defendant was sentenced, the 2022 version of section 1001.36 authorized a
trial court to grant diversion if the following criteria were met, among others: (1) the
court was satisfied that the defendant suffered from a mental disorder; (2) the court was
satisfied that the disorder was a significant factor in the commission of the charged
offense; and (3) in the opinion of a qualified mental health expert, the defendant’s
symptoms of the mental disorder motivating the criminal behavior would respond to
mental health treatment. (Former § 1001.36, subd. (b)(1)(A)–(F).)
2 Although there are three excluded disorders, including antisocial personality
disorder, section 1001.36 does not preclude from diversion defendants who suffer from
both excluded and included mental health disorders. (Negron v. Superior Court (2021)
70 Cal.App.5th 1007, 1009.)
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The 2023 version of section 1001.36 provides a two-step review for pretrial
diversion petitions. (§ 1001.36, subds. (b), (c).) Under step one, the court must find a
defendant eligible for pretrial diversion if (1) the defendant has been diagnosed with a
qualifying mental disorder(s), and (2) the defendant’s mental disorder(s) was a significant
factor in the commission of the charged offense. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b).) When making
this decision, the court must find the significant factor element satisfied “unless there is
clear and convincing evidence that it was not a motivating factor, causal factor, or
contributing factor to the defendant’s involvement in the alleged offense.” (§ 1001.36,
subd. (b)(2).)
If the defendant passes step one, the trial court proceeds to step two, where it must
consider whether the defendant is suitable for diversion. (§ 1001.36, subd. (c).) A
defendant is suitable when, among other requirements, a qualified mental health expert
opines that “the defendant’s symptoms of the mental disorder causing, contributing to, or
motivating the criminal behavior would respond to mental health treatment.” (§ 1001.36,
subd. (c)(1); “the mental health treatment requirement.”)
While the People concede that the 2023 version of section 1001.36 applies
retroactively to Schweitzer’s nonfinal judgment (Doron, supra, 95 Cal.App.5th at p. 6),
they contend remand would be futile because, under People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d
818, it is reasonably probable the trial court would have denied defendant’s petition under
the 2023 version of section 1001.36. But defendant contends remand is necessary
because the record does not “clearly indicate” that the trial court would have reached the
same conclusion had it been aware of its discretion under the 2023 version of section
1001.36, invoking People v. Gutierrez (2014) 58 Cal.4th 1354, 1391. (See Doron at
p. 10 [applying “clearly indicates” standard to appeal seeking remand under 2023 version
of section 1001.36].) Without deciding which standard applies, we conclude remand is
required even under the more stringent Watson standard.
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A trial court’s ruling on a request for mental health diversion is reviewed for abuse
of discretion. (People v. Moine (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 440, 448-449.) Such abuse occurs
if the court bases its decision on an incorrect legal standard. (People v. Carmony (2004)
33 Cal.4th 367, 378.) Under the 2023 version of section 1001.36, the People bear the
burden of rebutting the presumed eligibility of all qualifying mental disorders through
clear and convincing evidence that no nexus exists between defendant’s PTSD and the
offenses. (§ 1001.36, subd. (b)(2).) Here, the trial court technically erred by not
applying this presumption and clear and convincing evidence standard, which was not yet
in place. Ms. Smith’s statements regarding defendant’s PTSD, specifically his
“alterations in arousal and reactivity associated with [the 2013 stabbing], including
hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response,” which he experienced since the 2013
shooting, supported defendant’s presumed eligibility. The only evidence to the contrary
was Ms. Smith’s one-word answer regarding the connection between defendant’s
disorders and his offenses. We are not persuaded it is reasonably probable the trial court
would have found this answer to be clear and convincing evidence showing no nexus
between defendant’s PTSD and his offenses.
The People’s reliance on the mental health treatment requirement does not change
our conclusion. The People contend that because Ms. Smith concluded that defendant’s
PTSD was unrelated to his charged criminal conduct, his symptoms could not have
caused, contributed to, or motivated criminal behavior that would respond to treatment.
But the People conflate the mental health treatment requirement, in step two of the
diversion analysis, with the threshold requirement that the disorder be a significant factor
in the commission of the offense.
As stated ante, we cannot conclude that the trial court would have found clear and
convincing evidence to overcome the significant factor presumption. And the People do
not contend that Ms. Smith concluded defendant’s PTSD symptoms would not respond to
treatment. In fact, Ms. Smith reported: (1) defendant is “currently getting [mental
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health] treatment” and “appears to be doing well in the structured environment of pelican
bay prison”; (2) she recommends that he continue with this treatment; and (3) defendant
would “benefit from the proposed intervention by significantly diminishing the
impairment.” Thus, we reject the People’s contention grounded in the mental health
treatment requirement.
Because we remand for a new mental health diversion eligibility hearing under the
2023 version of section 1001.36, we do not reach defendant’s alternative contention that
trial court erred under the 2022 version of section 1001.36. We also express no view
concerning the ultimate outcome of defendant’s application, nor do we intend to preclude
the trial court from considering any subsequent evidence that may come to light on the
relevant factors of eligibility or suitability.
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DISPOSITION
We reverse the order denying defendant’s motion for mental health diversion and
remand the matter with directions that the trial court conduct a new hearing to consider
his application for mental health diversion under section 1001.36 as amended by Senate
Bill No. 1223 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.).
/s/
MESIWALA, J.
We concur:
/s/
MAURO, Acting P. J.
/s/
RENNER, J.
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