State v. McNichols , 2020 Ohio 2705 ( 2020 )

[Cite as State v. McNichols, 2020-Ohio-2705.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ROSS COUNTY
STATE OF OHIO, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, : Case No. 19CA3681
vs. :
PHILIP L. MCNICHOLS, : DECISION AND JUDGMENT ENTRY
Defendant-Appellee. :
_________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
James R. Kingsley, Circleville, Ohio, for appellant.
Jeffrey C. Marks, Ross County Prosecuting Attorney, and Pamela C. Wells, Assistant Ross
County Prosecuting Attorney, Chillicothe, Ohio, for appellee.
_________________________________________________________________
CRIMINAL APPEAL FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT
DATE JOURNALIZED: 4-24-20
ABELE, J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from a Ross County Common Pleas Court judgment. After the
trial court found Philip L. McNichols, defendant below and appellant herein, not guilty of assault
by reason of insanity, the court determined that appellant is a mentally ill person subject to court
order and placed appellant on conditional release.
{¶ 2} Appellant assigns the following error for review:
“DEFENDANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AFTER
HIS FINDING OF NGRI.”
{¶ 3} On October 5, 2018, a Ross County grand jury returned an indictment that charged
appellant with assault in violation of R.C. 2903.13. Appellant later entered a plea of not guilty
19CA3681 2
by reason of insanity and asserted that the assault occurred during a psychotic episode that he
experienced after he received drugs for a medical condition. In particular, appellant alleged that
the drugs he received caused him to hallucinate, and that his hallucination caused him to attack a
police officer.1
{¶ 4} On February 21, 2019, the trial court found appellant not guilty by reason of
insanity and ordered an evaluation to determine whether clear and convincing evidence exists to
show that appellant is (1) a mentally ill person subject to court order, or (2) is a person with an
intellectual disability subject to court ordered institutionalization.
{¶ 5} At a later hearing, the parties stipulated to the admission into evidence of Dr.
Daniel D. Hrinko’s forensic evaluation. Dr. Hrinko opined that appellant “cannot be considered
a person who is mentally ill and subject to hospitalization. His only enduring mental health
diagnosis is that of Major Depressive Disorder with no evidence of psychotic features and a
substance use disorder which is the result of his extensive history of abusing mood altering
substances over many years.” Dr. Hrinko continued: “The brief psychotic reaction that
[appellant] experienced at the time of the instant offense described his state at and around the
time of the instant offense and does not constitute an enduring diagnosis that could qualify him
as an individual subject to hospitalization as defined in the Ohio Revised Code.” Dr. Hrinko
opined that if “the court find[s] that [appellant] is an individual subject to hospitalization and that
court supervision should continue,” then the doctor recommends that the court place appellant
1
We observe that the parties’ briefs include additional facts obtained from various exhibits that were
apparently admitted during the court proceeding to determine whether the court should find appellant not guilty by
reason of insanity. None of those exhibits have been transmitted as part of the appellate record, however. Instead,
the only exhibit contained in the record before us is the forensic evaluation admitted during the dispositional
proceeding.
19CA3681 3
“on conditional release status within the community.” The doctor also observed that appellant
has been complying with treatment recommendations, appears to be benefitting from receiving
treatment, and should continue to receive treatment “for the foreseeable future.”
{¶ 6} At the hearing to determine the disposition, the state asserted that under R.C.
5122.01(B)(4) appellant qualifies as an mentally ill person subject to court order. The state
argued that the forensic report notes that appellant “has a long history of abusing mood altering
substances” and that appellant “reported a long history of panic attacks, mood swings[, and]
period[s] of darkness in which he would use alcohol and other drugs.” The state alleged that
until the recent episode, appellant failed to effectively treat his disorder and undermined
treatment because he continued to abuse alcohol or drugs. The state additionally claimed that
appellant will benefit from continued monitoring.
{¶ 7} At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court agreed with the state. The court
noted that Dr. Hrinko opined that appellant is not a mentally ill person subject to hospitalization,
but further noted that the statute does not use the term “mentally ill person subject to
hospitalization.” Instead, the statute uses the phrase “mentally ill person subject to court order.”
The court determined that appellant is a mentally ill person subject to court order because, as the
court observed, the forensic evaluation concluded that appellant “suffers from major depressive
disorder” and that appellant thus is “clearly mentally ill.” The court also found part of the
forensic report to be “very dismissive” as the report indicates that the incident that led to the
assault charge “was not of [appellant’s] doing, but the result from an adverse drug reaction due to
drugs injected to him by Adena Hospital in treating his heart attack.” The court believed that
appellant “is shifting the blame from himself to others.”
19CA3681 4
{¶ 8} The trial court further observed that appellant “has an extensive history of using
methamphetamine and cocaine, and abusing them.” Thus, the court (1) found appellant to be a
mentally ill person subject to court order; (2) ordered appellant to continue mental health
counseling; and (3) placed appellant on conditional release status within the community. This
appeal followed.
{¶ 9} In his sole assignment of error, appellant asserts that the trial court should have
ordered him discharged after it found him not guilty by reason of insanity. Appellant contends
that Dr. Hrinko’s report indicates that appellant is not mentally ill and does not qualify for
hospitalization. Thus, appellant argues, because he is not a mentally ill person subject to court
ordered hospitalization, the court must unconditionally discharge him.
{¶ 10} In general, appellate courts will not disturb a trial court’s finding that a person is a
mentally ill person subject to court order unless the court’s decision is against the manifest
weight of the evidence. In re Kister, 194 Ohio App. 3d 270, 2011-Ohio-2678, 955 N.E.2d 1029
(4th Dist.), ¶ 21, citing In re K.W., Franklin App. No. 06AP–731, 2006–Ohio–4908, 2006 WL
2708460, ¶ 6. When an appellate court reviews whether a trial court’s decision is against the
manifest weight of the evidence, the court “‘“weighs the evidence and all reasonable inferences,
considers the credibility of witnesses and determines whether in resolving conflicts in the
evidence, the [fact-finder] clearly lost its way and created such a manifest miscarriage of justice
that the [judgment] must be reversed * * *.”’” Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St. 3d 328,
2012-Ohio-2179, 972 N.E.2d 517, ¶ 20, quoting Tewarson v. Simon, 141 Ohio App. 3d 103, 115,
750 N.E.2d 176 (9th Dist.2001), quoting State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d 380, 387, 678 N.E.2d
541 (1997). A reviewing court may find a trial court’s decision against the manifest weight of
19CA3681 5
the evidence only in the “‘exceptional case in which the evidence weighs heavily against the
[decision].’” Thompkins, 78 Ohio St. 3d at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, quoting State v. Martin, 20
Ohio App. 3d 172, 175, 485 N.E.2d 717 (1983); accord State v. Lindsey, 87 Ohio St. 3d 479, 483,
721 N.E.2d 995 (2000). Moreover, when reviewing evidence under the manifest weight of the
evidence standard, an appellate court generally must defer to the fact-finder’s credibility
determinations. Eastley at ¶ 21. As the Eastley court explained:
“‘[I]n determining whether the judgment below is manifestly against the
weight of the evidence, every reasonable intendment must be made in favor of the
judgment and the finding of facts. * * *
If the evidence is susceptible of more than one construction, the reviewing
court is bound to give it that interpretation which is consistent with the verdict and
judgment, most favorable to sustaining the verdict and judgment.’”
Id., quoting Seasons Coal Co., 10 Ohio St. 3d at 80, fn. 3, quoting 5 Ohio Jurisprudence 3d,
Appellate Review, Section 60, at 191–192 (1978). Thus, “‘[a] reviewing court should not
reverse a decision simply because it holds a different opinion concerning the credibility of the
witnesses and evidence submitted before the trial court.’” State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St. 3d 382,
2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 24, quoting Seasons Coal at 81. Consequently, an
appellate court will leave the issues of weight and credibility of the evidence to the fact finder, as
long as a rational basis exists in the record for its decision. State v. Picklesimer, 4th Dist.
Pickaway No. 11CA9, 2012-Ohio-1282, ¶ 24; accord State v. Howard, 4th Dist. Ross No.
07CA2948, 2007-Ohio-6331, ¶ 6 (“We will not intercede as long as the trier of fact has some
factual and rational basis for its determination of credibility and weight.”).
{¶ 11} We additionally note that “‘[a] finding of an error in law is a legitimate ground for
reversal.’” State v. Wilson, 113 Ohio St. 3d 382, 2007-Ohio-2202, 865 N.E.2d 1264, ¶ 24,
19CA3681 6
quoting Seasons Coal at 81. Therefore, appellate courts will generally defer to the fact finder’s
credibility determinations, but not defer on matters that involve questions of law.
{¶ 12} R.C. 2945.40(A) sets forth the procedure that a trial court must follow after it finds
a person not guilty by reason of insanity.2 The statute requires the court to “conduct a full
hearing to determine whether the person is a mentally ill person subject to court order or a person
with an intellectual disability subject to institutionalization by court order.” If the court does not
find “clear and convincing evidence that the person is a mentally ill person subject to court order
or a person with an intellectual disability subject to institutionalization by court order, the court
shall discharge the person * * *.” R.C. 2945.40(E). If, however, “the court finds by clear and
convincing evidence that the person is a mentally ill person subject to court order, the court shall
commit the person either to the department of mental health and addiction services for treatment
in a hospital, facility, or agency as determined clinically appropriate by the department of mental
2
R.C. 2901.01(A)(14) explains when a person is not guilty by reason of insanity:
A person is “not guilty by reason of insanity” relative to a charge of an offense
only if the person proves, in the manner specified in section 2901.05 of the
Revised Code, that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did
not know, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, the wrongfulness of
the person’s acts.
We further observe that a person may avoid criminal culpability for conduct resulting from that person’s
involuntary intoxication. State v. Williamson, 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-18-049, 2019-Ohio-4380, 2019 WL
5491722, ¶ 47, citing State v. Johnston, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 26016, 2015-Ohio-450, ¶ 33 (stating that
“involuntary intoxication is an affirmative defense”). In the case at bar, however, appellant did not raise an
“involuntary intoxication” defense, but instead raised the “not guilty by reason of insanity” defense. Appellant’s
appellate counsel, however, argued that appellant actually suffered from “temporary insanity” that emanated from the
hospital’s treatment and choice of medication. Ohio, however, does not recognize the defense of “temporary
insanity.” In State v. Folmer, 117 Ohio St. 3d 319, 2008-Ohio-936; 883 N.E.2d 1052, the Ohio Supreme Court
reaffirmed and restated the principle that Ohio does not recognize the partial defense of diminished capacity (when a
defendant does not assert an insanity defense, it is well settled that he may not offer expert testimony in an effort to
show that he lacked mental capacity to form the specific mental state required for a particular crime). See, also,
State v. Wilcox, 70 Ohio St. 2d 182, 436 N.E.2d 523, 1982; State v. Heising, 6th Dist. Fulton No. F-08-005,
2008-Ohio-6803.
19CA3681 7
health and addiction services or to another medical or psychiatric facility, as appropriate.” R.C.
2945.40(F).
{¶ 13} Therefore, we observe that in light of the foregoing, the state must establish, by
clear and convincing evidence, that a person is a mentally ill person subject to court order. E.g.,
Foucha v. Louisiana, 504 U.S. 71, 86, 112 S. Ct. 1780, 1788, 118 L. Ed. 2d 437 (1992). Clear
and convincing evidence is evidence that “will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm
belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.” Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St.
469, 120 N.E.2d 118 (1954), paragraph three of the syllabus. The clear-and-convincing standard
requires a higher degree of proof than “a preponderance of the evidence,” but less than “evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt.” State v. Ingram, 82 Ohio App. 3d 341, 346, 612 N.E.2d 454 (1992).
“Where the proof required must be clear and convincing, a reviewing court will examine the
record to determine whether the trier of facts had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the
requisite degree of proof.” State v. Schiebel, 55 Ohio St. 3d 71, 74, 564 N.E.2d 54 (1990).
{¶ 14} As relevant in the case at bar, R.C. 5122.01(B)(4) defines a “[m]entally ill person
subject to court order” as follows:
a mentally ill person who, because of the person’s illness:
****
(4) Would benefit from treatment for the person’s mental illness and is in
need of such treatment as manifested by evidence of behavior that creates a grave
and imminent risk to substantial rights of others or the person[.]
We further note that R.C. 5122.01(A) defines “mental illness” as “a substantial disorder of
thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs judgment, behavior,
capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life.” See State v.
19CA3681 8
Decker, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 16AP-684, 2017-Ohio-4266, 2017 WL 2555360, ¶ 26 (explaining
that a court that is construing R.C. 5122.01(B) “must abide by the plain meaning of the definition
of mental illness as set forth in R.C. 5122.01(A)”).
{¶ 15} Consequently, in order to subject a person to a court order under R.C.
5122.02(B)(4), the state must establish, by clear and convincing evidence, all of the following:
(1) the person is mentally ill; (2) the person would benefit from treatment for the person’s mental
illness; (3) the person needs treatment; and (4) the person manifests behavior that creates a grave
and imminent risk to substantial rights of others or the person. A prerequisite finding, therefore,
is that the person has a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). See generally State v.
Welch, 125 Ohio App. 3d 49, 53, 707 N.E.2d 1133 (11th Dist.1997) (outlining essential elements
state must prove in order to involuntarily commit a mentally ill person and holding that state
must prove person suffers from mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A)).
{¶ 16} In 1984, the Ohio Supreme Court interpreted the former version of R.C.
5122.01(B)3 to mean that, before the state could involuntarily hospitalize a mentally ill person,
3
The statute that the Burton court reviewed stated as follows:
(B) “Mentally ill person subject to hospitalization by court order” means a mentally ill
person who, because of his illness:
(1) Represents a substantial risk of physical harm to himself as manifested by evidence of
threats of, or attempts at, suicide or serious self-inflicted bodily harm;
(2) Represents a substantial risk of physical harm to others as manifested by evidence of
recent homicidal or other violent behavior, evidence of recent threats that place another in
reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, or other evidence of present
dangerousness;
(3) Represents a substantial and immediate risk of serious physical impairment or injury
to himself as manifested by evidence that he is unable to provide for and is not providing for his
basic physical needs because of his mental illness and that appropriate provision for such needs
cannot be made immediately available in the community; or
(4) Would benefit from treatment in a hospital for his mental illness and is in need of such
treatment as manifested by evidence of behavior that creates a grave and imminent risk to
substantial rights of others or himself.
19CA3681 9
the state must establish that the person “represent[s] a substantial risk of physical harm to himself
or other members of society at the time of the commitment hearing.” In re Burton, 11 Ohio
St.3d 147, 149, 464 N.E.2d 530 (1984). At the time of the Burton decision, R.C. 5122.01(B)
used the phrase “mentally ill person subject to hospitalization.” In 2014, the legislature
amended the statute to read “mentally ill person subject to court order.” 2014 Ohio Laws File
131 (Am. Sub. S.B. 43). Additionally, when the court decided Burton, R.C. 5122.01(B)(5) had
not yet been enacted.4 In all other respects, the present-day version of the statute is similar to the
statute that the Burton court reviewed. Thus, although the present-day version of R.C.
5122.01(B) uses “mentally ill person subject to court order,” we nevertheless find Burton
Burton, 11 Ohio St. 3d at 149, quoting former R.C. 5122.01(B).
4
R.C. 5122.01(B)(5) states that a mentally ill person subject to court order means a mentally ill person
who:
(5)(a) Would benefit from treatment as manifested by evidence of behavior that indicates all of the
following:
(I) The person is unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision, based on a
clinical determination.
(ii) The person has a history of lack of compliance with treatment for mental illness and one of the
following applies:
(I) At least twice within the thirty-six months prior to the filing of an affidavit seeking
court-ordered treatment of the person under section 5122.111 of the Revised Code, the lack of
compliance has been a significant factor in necessitating hospitalization in a hospital or receipt of
services in a forensic or other mental health unit of a correctional facility, provided that the
thirty-six-month period shall be extended by the length of any hospitalization or incarceration of
the person that occurred within the thirty-six-month period.
(II) Within the forty-eight months prior to the filing of an affidavit seeking court-ordered treatment
of the person under section 5122.111 of the Revised Code, the lack of compliance resulted in one
or more acts of serious violent behavior toward self or others or threats of, or attempts at, serious
physical harm to self or others, provided that the forty-eight-month period shall be extended by the
length of any hospitalization or incarceration of the person that occurred within the
forty-eight-month period.
(iii) The person, as a result of the person’s mental illness, is unlikely to voluntarily participate in
necessary treatment.
(iv) In view of the person’s treatment history and current behavior, the person is in need of
treatment in order to prevent a relapse or deterioration that would be likely to result in substantial
risk of serious harm to the person or others.
19CA3681 10
instructive. We also point out that other courts have continued to rely upon Burton despite the
change in language. E.g., In re C.J., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-01-013, 2019-Ohio-4403,
2019 WL 5543079, ¶ 19; In re R.T., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 17AP-288, 2019-Ohio-618, 2019
WL 852110, ¶ 13; State v. Rohrer, 4th Dist. No. 14CA3471, 2015-Ohio-5333, 54 N.E.3d 654,
2015 WL 9305562, ¶ 60.
{¶ 17} We also recognize that the Burton court adopted a totality of the circumstances
test that courts should use when determining whether a mentally ill person is subject to
hospitalization. Id. at 149. Thus, courts should also use a totality-of-the-circumstances test
when determining whether a mentally ill person is subject to court order. A court must evaluate
“[t]he individual’s present mental state” in light of “current or recent behavior as well as prior
dangerous propensities of the person.” Id. In doing so, a court should consider the following
factors:
(1) whether, in the court’s view, the individual currently represents a substantial
risk of physical harm to himself or other members of society; (2) psychiatric and
medical testimony as to the present mental and physical condition of the alleged
incompetent; (3) whether the person has insight into his condition so that he will
continue treatment as prescribed or seek professional assistance if needed; (4) the
grounds upon which the state relies for the proposed commitment; (5) any past
history which is relevant to establish the individual’s degree of conformity to the
laws, rules, regulations and values of society; and (6) if there is evidence that the
person’s mental illness is in a state of remission, the court must also consider the
medically suggested cause and degree of the remission and the probability that the
individual will continue treatment to maintain the remissive state of his illness
should he be released from commitment.
Id. at 149-150.
{¶ 18} We further note that this court previously held that “[a] person acquitted of a crime
by reason of insanity is entitled to release once the acquittee has become sane or is no longer
19CA3681 11
dangerous.” State v. Trapp, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 97CA819, 1998 WL 388236, *2, citing
Foucha, 504 U.S. at 446, and Jones v. United States, 463 U.S. 354, 363, 103 S. Ct. 3043, 77
L. Ed. 2d 694 (1983). We determined a defendant is entitled to discharge when the evidence fails
to show the defendant suffers from a mental illness. In Trapp, the trial court had revoked the
defendant’s conditional release after the defendant had been charged with several criminal
offenses. A psychologist testified that the defendant was not a mentally ill person subject to
hospitalization, but instead suffered from substance abuse disorder and had an antisocial
personality. The psychologist additionally opined that the defendant likely would continue to
abuse drugs and alcohol and to repeat violent and aggressive behavior towards others due to the
defendant’s substance abuse problem. The psychologist “acknowledged that as a result of
‘character flaws,’ i.e., substance abuse and antisocial personality, the [defendant] may pose a
substantial risk to himself or others if released, but poses no risk as a result of a mental illness.”
Id. at *1. The trial court nonetheless found the defendant to be a mentally ill person subject to
hospitalization. The defendant appealed and this court (1) reversed the trial court’s judgment,
and (2) pointed out that the expert witnesses testified that the defendant was not mentally ill as
defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). Additionally, a forensic review team “noted that [the defendant]
had not demonstrated symptoms of a substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception,
orientation, or memory.” We determined that the evidence failed to show that the defendant’s
“substance abuse and antisocial personality disorders * * * meet the statutory definition of mental
illness.” We concluded: “Disregarding all of the medical testimony that a person is no longer
mentally ill in favor of evidence of past heinous acts, and concluding that the person is mentally
19CA3681 12
ill, does not meet the statutory standards for commitment.” Id. at *2. We thus reversed the trial
court’s judgment that found the defendant to be a mentally ill person subject to hospitalization.
{¶ 19} In State v. Welch, supra, the appellate court similarly disagreed with a trial court’s
assessment that a defendant with a substance abuse disorder and antisocial personality was a
mentally ill person subject to hospitalization. In Welch, the defendant experienced a psychotic
episode after he received drugs for medical treatment and tragically stabbed to death a teenage
boy. The court later found the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity and committed him to a
mental hospital. Approximately ten years after the stabbing death, the defendant sought release
from his commitment. The state opposed release, and the trial court granted the state’s request
for continued commitment.
{¶ 20} On appeal, the court determined that the evidence failed to show that the
defendant’s substance abuse disorder or antisocial personality disorder constituted a mental
illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). The court noted that expert witnesses testified that the
defendant did not experience any hallucinations and had not shown any signs of the same
psychosis that caused him to stab the teenage boy nearly ten years earlier. The court also
determined that the defendant’s “persistent” substance abuse disorder was not so severe as to
constitute a substantial disorder of thought within the meaning of R.C. 5122.01(A). The court
recognized the expert witnesses’ concerns that the defendant may not seek adequate treatment for
his problems if released from confinement, but concluded that “continuing to confine a person
suffering from an antisocial personality disorder who does not meet the statutory definition of
mental illness on the ground that he may be dangerous violates due process. Should [the
defendant] abuse alcohol, traffic in marijuana, or commit an assault or other violent crime when
19CA3681 13
released, it will be a matter for law enforcement officials, not the mental health community.” Id.
at 59 (citations omitted). The court thus reversed the trial court’s judgment that granted the
state’s request for continued commitment.
{¶ 21} In In re C.J., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2019-01-013, 2019-Ohio-4403, 2019 WL
5543079, ¶ 21, the court determined that the defendant’s diagnosis of major depressive disorder
qualified as a mental illness under R.C. 5122.01(A) and that the defendant was a mentally ill
person subject to court order. The court concluded that the state presented adequate clear and
convincing evidence to establish that the defendant was “a mentally ill person, who, because of
his illness, would benefit from treatment and is in need of such treatment as manifested by
evidence of behavior that creates a grave and imminent risk to substantial rights of himself or
others.” Id. at ¶ 20. In reaching its conclusion, the court observed that the medical expert
testified that the defendant’s “depression was a substantial disorder of mood which impaired his
judgment and behavior.” Id. at ¶ 21. Additionally, the court found that the evidence showed
that the defendant “has a substantial mental disorder which grossly impairs his judgment,
behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of life.” Id. The
court noted that, at the time of the hearing, the defendant had been “experiencing a significant
amount of stress” and had “difficulty sleeping and attending to his basic care.” Id. The court
also found that the defendant’s behaviors illustrated his need for treatment. The court
determined that the defendant’s conduct created a grave and imminent risk that he would be
unable to manage the stressors in his life such as his pending divorce and custody matters. The
court concluded that the defendant’s “inability to manage the symptoms of his depression would
have only continued without intervention.” Id. at ¶ 24. We also note that the court recognized
19CA3681 14
that the facts presented a close case. Id. The court, however, deferred to the trial court’s
assessment of the defendant’s condition and his need for treatment. Id.
{¶ 22} Similarly, in State v. Werner, 168 Ohio App. 3d 272, 2006-Ohio-3866, 859 N.E.2d
986 (6th Dist.), the court determined that evidence that the defendant suffered from a mood
disorder and “polysubstance dependence” supported the trial court’s finding that the defendant
was a mentally ill person subject to hospitalization under the former version of R.C. 5122.01(B).
Id. at ¶ 16. The court noted that the defendant’s “own report of the offense that led to these
proceedings was that he had become delusional under the influence of drugs and alcohol” and
that one expert “opined that appellant could ‘easily relapse into a psychotic or mood disorder’ if
he returned to taking drugs.” Id. The court further pointed out that “whenever [the defendant]
is exposed to the least permissive atmosphere, he returns to drugs” and “he minimizes his
problem, suggesting little insight and a ‘high risk * * * of relapse.’” Id. We also recognize that
other courts have upheld involuntary commitments under R.C. 5122.01(B)(4) when the
individual’s mental illness resulted in paranoia, an inability to gain insight into her illness, and a
“rapid emotional escalation when her paranoid beliefs were challenged,” In re Mental Illness of
Vass, 9th Dist. Summit No. 19270, 2000 WL 327221, *4, or when the mental illness caused the
individual to have a “clear inability to deal with reality, to interact with others, and to meet with
ordinary aspects of life such as caring for his basic needs.” In re Kuehne, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA98-09-192, 1999 WL 527755, *8.
{¶ 23} In the case sub judice, we initially observe that it appears that the evidence
transmitted to this court on appeal is limited to the forensic evaluation. None of the parties
presented any in-court testimony regarding appellant’s present mental state, and the only
19CA3681 15
evidence in the record (Dr. Hrinko’s report) states that appellant is not a mentally ill person and
not subject to hospitalization. Moreover, it appears that Dr. Hrinko’s evaluation does not
conclude that appellant has a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). Although Dr.
Hrinko diagnosed appellant with major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorder, Dr.
Hrinko’s report does not indicate that either disorder causes appellant to experience “a
substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs
judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of
life.” Rather, Dr. Hrinko stated that appellant has an “enduring mental health diagnosis * * * of
Major Depressive Disorder with no evidence of psychotic features and a substance abuse
disorder which is the result of his extensive history of abusing mood altering substances over
many years.” It does not appear that Dr. Hrinko stated that appellant has a mental illness as
defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). Dr. Hrinko also reported that the notes from appellant’s
“psychiatric appointments indicate that he continues to use his medications appropriately and that
they are effective. It is reported his symptoms of anxiety are well controlled as is his depression.
It was determined he no longer needed psychiatric services and that he should continue his
mental health counseling while relying on his primary care physician for his antidepressant
medications.” Dr. Hrinko thus concluded that appellant is not mentally ill and not subject to
hospitalization.
{¶ 24} The trial court, however, apparently disagreed with Dr. Hrinko’s diagnosis that
appellant is not mentally ill and believed that appellant’s major depressive disorder diagnosis
shows that appellant is mentally ill. At one point during the hearing, the court rejected
appellant’s counsel’s assertion that appellant is not mentally ill and stated: “It says in the report
19CA3681 16
that he suffers from major depressive disorder. He’s clearly mentally ill.” Appellant’s counsel
suggested that in order to find appellant a mentally ill person subject to court order, the court
must find that appellant is “some how * * * a danger to himself or others.” The court, however,
discredited Dr. Hrinko’s opinion that appellant is not mentally ill based upon Dr. Hrinko’s
further statement that appellant is not subject to hospitalization, but noted that the statute does
not require the court to find that the person is mentally ill and subject to hospitalization. Instead,
the court stated, the statute requires a court to find that a person is a mentally ill person subject to
court order.
{¶ 25} After our review, and in light of the state of the record before us, we believe it is
unclear whether the trial court applied the correct legal standard before it found appellant to be a
mentally ill person subject to court order. Although the court correctly recognized that the
statute does not require a finding that the person is subject to hospitalization, the language the
court used during the hearing and in its judgment entry does not indicate that the court first
considered whether appellant has a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). Instead, the
court’s language suggests that appellant’s mental health diagnosis of major depressive disorder
automatically establishes that he suffers from a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A).
Moreover, it appears that the trial court did not indicate that either of appellant’s mental health
diagnoses (major depressive disorder or substance abuse disorder) shows that appellant has a
“substantial disorder of thought, mood, perception, orientation, or memory that grossly impairs
[his] judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to meet the ordinary demands of
life.” R.C. 5122.01(A). Additionally, we have found nothing in the record submitted on appeal
19CA3681 17
to suggest that either of appellant’s mental health diagnoses satisfies the R.C. 5122.01(A)
definition of mental illness.
{¶ 26} Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we reverse the trial court’s
judgment that found appellant to be a mentally ill person subject to court order and remand this
matter so the trial court may consider whether either of appellant’s mental health diagnoses
constitutes a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A), and thus, whether appellant is a
mentally ill person subject to court order under R.C. 5122.01(B)(4). We caution, however, that
our opinion should not be construed as a comment on the merits of the issue. Instead, the
purpose of our remand is to allow the trial court to evaluate whether the evidence supports a
finding that appellant suffers from a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A). We also
again note that the parties apparently submitted additional evidence during the proceeding to
determine appellant’s criminal culpability for the assault, but none of that evidence has been
transmitted to this court on appeal. On remand, the trial court may consider all evidence when it
determines whether appellant has a mental illness as defined in R.C. 5122.01(A).
{¶ 27} Accordingly, based upon the foregoing reasons, we sustain appellant’s sole
assignment of error, reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand this matter for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
JUDGMENT REVERSED AND CAUSE
REMANDED FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION.
19CA3681 18
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the judgment be reversed and the cause remanded for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion. Appellant shall recover of appellee the costs herein
taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Ross County
Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute that mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Smith, P.J. & Hess, J.: Concur in Judgment & Opinion
For the Court
BY:
Peter B. Abele, Judge
19CA3681 19
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment entry and the
time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing with the clerk.