ÿWPCì  Ž¹°s*åÕÒz5‹ƒeÅšfEmËz™¦2Éi«Ý{WÜL#LÌ´ p|S‘D¤Êp \*"8=(´mQ0½¶«Ü2#µÇâVQ®^%?%iÕz.ªÎûtŽ×G(¬Ö†!Îÿ6…µ»ƒþL‡ë «uʤâsÕ©1yâ5‚•&KjÈ6gºÚw”‹” "¥ÆU_ír‰4¦’cÐkûv¬z@º©cbA_“ÑÀ„¦#l¯ñ++ñL¦{³wcl «KàŠÿX’Ç{AÁÀqÑ\zâ»:_£ Y”Ø=dɪæ UÔ¢h}ëٺσIÌäÎ…2Ø0Xsi(}€ÃŒ4?ªÜ3ñ}€·‰Õõ2¦ ä|ŠÂ6²×Ñ¿.Ý»úÙ!ö»P)=gô+hF2!«ºkÂ<øƒZ )Ã]J8B½ýÙi¤äÒ +$G¦ùY‹- ŠÏÊõoÃþ&Ê/ÖQŽ|ýþöÝy¦_¦M÷¦ù#o_å£bºþå¨oY²Oy'¨=Û Ä )·àÀ|ùÒÝöׇK µôØÖ¨¤].ÖiZ‚­ï G"Œ1E€`æ «ôÃ.ÔÚÊÙøŸüG¡bÝô®»æ Fe¬Çõ¯~Ô¾_vçÑ#˜À$˜œÎƈsSùd¤î¿8ëßãÜW#!ÂUNã %1 0(7^ _w@k4«¿Î mÐ~ç 0le 0DÑ º                                                                        BÏ ˜HP LaserJet 4ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0(ÖÃ9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡p·œ4‰ >?D@ABDCDDEUFUGDiu3@Þ0orel03|xGÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ tÝ ƒ üÝ$Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Now€renumbered€to€rule€32.1(b).((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó subduralepiduralcraniotomy neurocognitiveimpulsivityStaleyFerrellFriersonCorderoStricklandBouchillonProfittWaldronBalkcomEcheandiaaffirmancedamnedestdiredShaffer dÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÑ8€6XXdìdÈ8ÑTHEREððS€ALWAYS€SOMETHINGóóÐ ° ÐÌBy€Lori€QuickÌÓ:ÓÌÓÓà  àDavid€Letterman€does€a€skit€called€ð ðIs€This€Anything?ðð€in€which€a€short€act€is€presented€afterÏwhich€Letterman€and€his€sidekick€Paul€Shaffer€discuss€whether€the€act€was€something€or€nothing.€ÏAs€appellate€counsel,€we€need€to€approach€even€a€short€record€with€the€thought€„€at€least€the€hope€„Ïthat€itððs€always€something.€€Many€times,€particularly€in€guilty€or€nolo€contendere€plea€cases,€weÏbegin€our€record€review€with€the€preconceived€notion€that€absent€a€certificate€of€probable€cause€thereÏwill€be€virtually€nothing€to€say.€€While€this€may€be€true€much€of€the€time,€it€is€important€to€approachÏeach€case,€regardless€of€whether€there€was€a€jury€trial,€a€court€trial,€or€a€plea,€with€the€attitude€thatÏthereððs€always€something.€€òòóóÐ H˜ Ðà  àIn€reviewing€a€record,€it€must€be€kept€in€mind€that€there€is€virtually€no€part€of€the€record€thatÏcan€be€considered€unimportant.€€We€have€all€read€countless€probation€reports€and€most€of€the€time,Ïthey€consist€of€nothing€more€than€a€regurgitation€of€what€was€written€in€the€police€reports,€which€byÏtheir€very€nature€will€almost€never€be€favorable€to€your€client.€€We€usually€approach€these€reportsÏanticipating€perhaps€very€little€need€for€legal€analysis.€€However,€there€are€cases,€such€as€the€caseÏof€Walter€Jones,€where€even€the€probation€report€and€the€police€reports€raise€huge€red€flags€that€mustÏbe€heeded.ñFñÌÐ  $X" ÐñFññGñÌñGñÓ  ÓI.ÌTHE€CASE€OF€WALTER€JONESÌ__________________ÌÓÓà8 @ àð ðThe€truth€is€rarely€pure€and€never€simple.ðð€€„€€òòOscar€Wildeóó€(1854„1900),€òòThe€Importance€OfÐ 8 ˆ ÐBeing€Earnestóó,€1895,€Act€IÐ $ t ÐÓÉÓ__________________ÌÓŽÓà  àA.€€òòWho€Is€Walter€Jones?óóÐ è 8  Ðà  àWalter€Jones€was€born€on€December€30,€1961.€€His€childhood€was€normal€and€by€and€largeÏuneventful.€€He€was€a€popular€boy€who€never€€exhibited€any€aggressive€tendencies.€€In€NovemberÏof€1984€at€the€age€of€almost€23,€Mr.€Jones€was€a€passenger€in€a€Porsche€911€when€it€hit€a€tree€at€aÏspeed€of€approximately€100€miles€per€hour,€ejecting€all€occupants€from€the€vehicle.€€Mr.€JonesÏsuffered€a€right€parietal€temporal€depressed€skull€fracture.€€An€emergency€CT€scan€revealed€frontalÏeffacement€and€subdural€and€epidural€blood.€€An€emergency€craniotomy€was€performed€and€his€lifeÏwas€saved.€€Mr.€Jones€remained€in€a€coma€for€30€days,€and€was€hospitalized€for€three€months.€€¼à  àUnfortunately,€his€recovery€was€not€total.€€He€was€left€with€both€physical€and€mental€deficitsÏincluding€memory€impairment.€€Mr.€Jones€was€never€the€same.€€His€behavior€was€like€that€of€a€child.€ÏHe€was€very€easily€agitated€and€extremely€attached€to€his€mother.€€His€thought€patterns€and€behaviorÏwere€at€best€eccentric€and€at€worst€bizarre.€€This€led€to€others€being€impatient€and€intolerant€of€him,Ïwhich€exacerbated€his€paranoia€and€sense€of€being€different€and€unfairly€punished.€€He€frequentlyÏmisinterpreted€the€actions,€comments,€and€intentions€of€others.€€Ìà  àBecause€of€the€neurocognitive€changes€subsequent€to€his€head€injury,€Mr.€Jones€was€subjectÏto€unexpected€periods€of€anger€which€could€be€triggered€by€minor,€inconsequential€events€that€aÏnormal€person€would€disregard.€€Mr.€Jones€suffered€from€unpredictable€mood€swings€and€wouldÐ h+¸&* Ðharbor€grudges€for€long€periods€of€time.€€These€were€permanent€disabilities€and€resulted€in€Mr.€JonesÏbeing€dependent€on€his€parents€for€support.€€Over€the€years,€Mr.€Jonesðð€behavior€remained€abnormal.€ÏHe€suffered€from€chronic€dementia€with€impulsivity€and€a€tendency€to€have€behavioral€outbursts.€Ïà  àIn€1993,€Walterððs€father€died.€€Walter€was€devastated€and€had€a€difficult€time€accepting€hisÏfatherððs€death.€€Walter€continued€to€live€with€his€mother,€Trinidad€ð ðLindaðð€Jones.€€Linda€eventuallyÏdeveloped€a€relationship€with€a€man€named€Lowell€Noble.€€Noble€was€very€good€to€Linda,€but€reallyÏdid€not€want€Walter€in€their€lives.€€In€1998€Noble€arranged€for€Walter€to€go€to€a€recovery€home€runÏby€Heavenððs€Gate,€an€organization€now€notorious€for€its€membersðð€commission€of€mass€suicide€inÏhopes€of€boarding€a€space€ship.€€It€was€after€that€stay€that€Walter€began€talking€about€communicatingÏwith€angels,€demons,€and€animals.Ìà  àB.€€òòWhat€Happened€On€May€15,€1999?óóÐ  p Ðà  àOn€May€15,€1999,€Noble,€then€age€72,€asked€Walter€what€he€had€done€with€a€radio€NobleÏhad€lent€him.€€Walter€replied€that€he€had€sold€it.€€An€argument€ensued,€and€Walter€began€slappingÏNoble.€€Linda,€who€was€then€age€71,€asked€him€to€stop,€but€he€knocked€Noble€to€the€ground.€€LindaÏimmediately€called€911.€€She€then€tried€to€intervene€to€protect€Noble€and€Walter€shoved€her€againstÏthe€wall€and€began€choking€her.€€He€continued€to€kick€Noble€as€he€lay€on€the€floor.€€The€911€operatorÏcould€hear€Walter€yelling€obscenities€and€screaming€ð ðYou€are€a€demon!ðð,€ð ðYou€are€gonna€die!ðð,€andÏð ðDie,€you!ðð€€Linda€lost€consciousness.€€When€she€came€to,€she€saw€Walter€still€kicking€Noble.€€SheÏasked€him€to€stop,€and€he€left€the€house.€€€Ìà  àWhen€police€arrived€at€the€house,€Walter€came€out€and€refused€to€surrender.€€He€screamedÏobscenities€at€the€police.€€The€confrontation€eventually€became€a€physical€struggle€during€which€a€Ïpolice€officer€used€his€baton€and€pepper€spray€to€subdue€him.€€Despite€this,€Walter€fled,€kicking€aÐ h+¸&* Ðpursuing€officer€in€the€stomach.€€He€was€finally€subdued€and€taken€into€custody.Ìà  àLinda€Jones€lost€the€vision€in€one€eye€due€to€severe€facial€trauma€sustained€when€WalterÏslammed€her€against€the€wall.€€She€also€suffered€a€closed€head€injury€and€bruising€all€over€her€faceÏand€both€arms.€€Noble€fared€far€worse.€€He€was€maintained€on€life€support€for€four€days,€andÏremained€in€the€hospital€for€over€a€month.€€He€had€suffered€a€diffuse€axonal€injury,€meaning€thereÏwas€bruising€caused€by€linear€and€rotational€force€placed€on€the€brain€which€tears€the€strands€of€theÏnerves.€€He€had€experienced€bleeding€throughout€the€brain.€€Little€could€be€done€to€reverse€theÏinjury,€and€so€while€he€was€hospitalized€his€treatment€was€focused€on€preventing€secondary€injuriesÏsuch€as€strokes.€€The€prognosis€was€that€he€would€never€be€the€same€in€that€he€would€always€haveÏsome€deficits.€€This€proved€to€be€true.€€Prior€to€the€incident,€Noble€had€lived€independently€and€hadÏrun€his€own€technology€business.€€He€had€been€an€inventor€with€17€patents€to€his€name.€€Afterward,Ïhe€admitted€to€his€daughter€that€he€was€confused€by€a€restaurant€menu.€€His€vision€was€alsoÏimpaired.€ÌÓ  ÓII.ÌòòTHE€LEGAL€PROCEEDINGSóóÐ €Ð Ð__________________ÌÓÓà8 @ àð ðIf€you€really€want€to€do€something,€you€will€find€a€way.€€If€you€donððt,€you€will€find€an€excuse.ðð€Ï„€€òòAnonymousóóÐ #l! ÐÓQÓ__________________ÌÓ  Óà  àA.€€òòThe€ChargesóóÐ à%0!$ Ðà  àBased€on€the€events€of€May€15,€1999,€Walter€Jones€was€charged€with€one€count€ofÏaggravated€mayhem€(Penal€Code€section€205);€two€counts€of€elder€abuse€under€circumstances€likelyÏto€produce€great€bodily€harm€or€death€€(Penal€Code€section€368,€subd.€(b)(1)),€each€of€which€carriedÐ h+¸&* Ðgreat€bodily€injury€enhancements€(Penal€Code€section€12022.7,€subd.€(c))€and€allegations€that€theÏvictim€was€70€years€of€age€or€older€(Penal€Code€section€368,€subd.€(b)(2)(B));€and€one€count€ofÏbattery€on€a€peace€officer€(Penal€Code€sections€242„243,€subd.€(b).)Ìà  àB.€€òòThe€Plea€And€SentenceóóÐ 8 ˆ Ðà  àOn€September€15,€1999,€on€the€advice€of€counsel,€Walter€pled€guilty€to€all€charges€andÏadmitted€all€enhancements.€€He€was€sentenced€to€the€mandatory€term€of€life€with€possibility€of€paroleÏfor€the€mayhem.€€He€was€sentenced€to€serve€the€upper€term€of€four€years€on€one€of€the€elder€abuseÏcharges,€plus€a€consecutive€five€year€term€for€the€great€bodily€injury€enhancement.€€The€sentence€forÏthe€other€elder€abuse€charge€was€stayed€pursuant€to€Penal€Code€section€654.€€His€total€prisonÏcommitment€was€life€with€possibility€of€parole€consecutive€to€nine€years.€€€€€€à x à€€€€€€Ð H˜ Ðà  àUpon€reading€the€probation€report€during€a€òòWendeóó€review,€it€was€abundantly€clear€that€Mr.Ð  p ÐJones€had€serious€mental€health€issues.€€Even€more€clear€was€the€fact€that€the€elements€of€aggravatedÏmayhem€(Penal€Code€section€205)€simply€could€not€be€proved.Ìà  àC.€€òòThe€Initial€Review€Of€The€CaseóóÐ ¨ø Ðà  àThe€case€was€assigned€on€an€independent€basis€to€a€panel€attorney.€€He€submitted€the€recordÏto€me€for€a€òòWendeóó€review.€€I€immediately€determined€that€the€record€was€incomplete.€€Only€a€portionÐ X ¨ Ðof€the€sentencing€hearing,€which€was€rather€a€lengthy€one,€had€been€transcribed.€€Thus,€we€did€notÏhave€a€reporterððs€transcript€of€testimony€by€Walterððs€mother€and€sister;€a€friend€who€had€known€himÏsince€the€fourth€grade;€and€a€psychiatrist€who€had€been€retained€by€defense€counsel€to€evaluate€(1)Ïwhether€Walter€suffered€from€organic€impairment€and€irrational€thought€processes;€and€(2)€if€so,Ïwhether€they€were€mitigating€factors€in€explaining€his€conduct.Ìà  àEven€without€this€portion€of€the€record,€I€was€deeply€concerned€about€whether€Walter€hadÐ h+¸&* Ðbeen€adequately€represented€by€trial€counsel.€€First€of€all,€to€be€guilty€of€aggravated€mayhem,€PenalÏCode€section€205€requires€the€specific€intent€to€cause€the€maiming€injury.€€(òòPeople€v.€Leeóó€(1990)€220Ð ˆØ ÐCal.App.3d€320,€324„325;€òòPeople€v.€Ferrellóó€(1990)€218€Cal.App.3d€828,€832„833;€see€also€òòPeopleÐ `° Ðv.€Hillóó€(1994)€23€Cal.App.4th€1566,€1569,€fn.€2.)€€Evidence€which€shows€no€more€than€anÐ 8 ˆ Ðindiscriminate€attack€on€the€body€of€the€victim€is€insufficient€to€prove€the€specific€intent€to€commitÏmayhem€under€section€205.€€In€addition,€that€specific€intent€cannot€be€inferred€solely€from€evidenceÏthat€the€injury€inflicted€constitutes€mayhem;€instead,€there€must€be€other€facts€and€circumstancesÏwhich€give€rise€to€an€inference€of€intent€to€maim€rather€than€attack€indiscriminately.€€(òòLeeóó,€òòsupraóó,Ð ˜è  Ðat€p.€325;€òòFerrellóó,€òòsupraóó,€at€p.€835.)€€€€Ð pÀ Ðà  àBased€on€the€information€I€had,€it€appeared€that€Walterððs€attack€on€his€mother€was€nothingÏmore€than€an€indiscriminate€attack.€€In€fact,€it€appeared€that€the€injury€to€Mrs.€Jones'€eye€occurredÏwhen€she€was€shoved€against€the€wall.€€This€clearly€does€not€give€rise€to€the€inference€that€WalterÏintended€the€maiming€injury.€€Thus,€I€believed€there€may€have€been€insufficient€evidence€to€supportÏthe€charge,€and€Walter€should€not€have€been€advised€to€plead€guilty.Ìà  àIn€addition€to€the€factual€scenario€possibly€not€supporting€an€aggravated€mayhem€charge,€theÏpsychiatric€evaluation€clearly€indicated€that€Walter€may€very€well€not€have€known€right€from€wrongÏat€the€time€of€the€offense,€yet€he€pled€to€the€sheet€before€preliminary€hearing.€€For€some€reason€trialÏcounsel€did€not€have€the€psychiatric€evaluation€done€until€ò òafteró ó€the€plea€despite€the€knowledge€thatÐ $X" ÐWalter€had€brain€damage.€€And€then,€once€she€received€it,€she€made€no€efforts€to€have€the€pleaÏwithdrawn.Ìà  àEvidence€of€a€mental€disorder€is€admissible€solely€to€negate€whether€or€not€the€defendantÏactually€formed€a€required€specific€intent€when€a€specific€intent€crime€is€charged.€€(Penal€CodeÐ p+À&* Ðsection€28,€subd.€(a);€òòPeople€v.€Reyesóó€(1997)€52€Cal.App.4th€975,€982.)€€Thus,€it€appeared€to€me€thatÐ ° Ðthere€may€have€been€a€defense€even€in€addition€to€that€of€insufficiency€of€evidence.€€I€was€alsoÏconcerned€when€I€saw€that€trial€counsel€asked€the€court€to€sentence€Walter€to€a€state€hospital€or€toÏa€"short€prison"€sentence€despite€the€fact€that€the€court€had€no€discretion€to€do€that€since€Penal€CodeÏsection€205€mandates€a€sentence€of€life€with€possibility€of€parole.€€€Ìà  àI€asked€the€panel€attorney€to€obtain€the€rest€of€the€reporterððs€transcript€of€the€sentencingÏhearing€and€to€contact€trial€counsel€to€find€out€why€Walter€was€advised€to€plead€to€the€aggravatedÏmayhem€charge€despite€the€case€law€above€which€indicates€that€the€evidence€may€have€beenÏinsufficient€to€support€such€a€charge.€€I€€also€asked€him€to€find€out€why€trial€counsel€asked€the€courtÏto€sentence€Walter€to€something€other€than€life€with€possibility€of€parole€without€providing€the€courtÏwith€any€legal€authority€permitting€it€to€do€so.€€I€was€also€concerned,€given€Walterððs€mental€state,€Ïthat€perhaps€he€had€not€quite€understood€the€consequences€of€the€plea.Ìà  àI€urged€the€panel€attorney€to€investigate€whether€counsel€was€ineffective€in€failing€toÏinvestigate€a€defense€based€on€appellant's€history€of€mental€illness.€€To€render€reasonably€competentÏassistance,€an€attorney€in€a€criminal€case€must€perform€certain€basic€duties.€€Generally,€the€SixthÏAmendment€and€article€I,€section€15€of€the€California€Constitution€require€counsel's€diligence€andÏactive€participation€in€the€full€and€effective€preparation€of€his€client's€case.€€Criminal€defenseÏattorneys€have€a€duty€to€investigate€òòcarefullyóó€all€defenses€of€fact€and€of€law€that€may€be€availableÐ $X" Ðto€the€defendant.€€(òòPeople€v.€Popeóó€(1979)€23€Cal.3d€412,€425„426.)€€Ð à%0!$ Ðà  àThe€California€Supreme€Court€has€also€repeatedly€held€that€to€render€reasonably€competentÏassistance,€an€attorney€bears€certain€basic€responsibilities,€òòincluding€the€investigation€of€availableÐ )à$( Ðdefensesóó€and,€in€an€appropriate€case,€the€obtaining€of€a€psychiatric€examination.€€(òòPeople€v.€FriersonóóÐ h+¸&* Ð(1979)€25€Cal.3d€142,€160„161;€òòPopeóó,€òòsupraóó,€at€pp.€424„425.)€€Under€the€circumstances€of€aÐ ° Ðparticular€case,€the€failure€of€defense€counsel€to€investigate€cannot€be€considered€reasonable;Ïconsequently,€the€resultant€choice€of€defense€strategy€cannot€be€justified€as€an€informed€tacticalÏdecision.€€(òòIn€re€Hallóó€(1981)€30€Cal.3d€408,€426.)€€The€dereliction€of€the€duty€to€investigate€availableÐ 8 ˆ Ðdefenses€is€especially€significant€where€trial€counsel€decides€to€withhold€a€mental€or€psychiatricÏdefense€from€trial€without€first€investigating€the€availability€of€such€a€defense.€€(òòFriersonóó,€òòsupraóó,€atÐ è 8  Ðpp.€162„163,€citing€òòIn€re€Saundersóó€(1970)€2€Cal.3d€1033,€1048„1049€[counsel's€decision€was€madeÐ À  Ðwithout€the€benefit€of€òòsubstantial€factual€inquiryóó€into€the€specifics€of€petitioner's€mental€conditionÐ ˜è  Ðwhere€he€undertook€no€serious€efforts€to€obtain€available€medical€reports€or€to€have€petitionerÏexamined€by€a€psychiatrist.€€Although€counsel's€decision€not€to€raise€the€defense€was€made€forÏ"tactical"€and€"strategic"€reasons,€the€failure€of€counsel€to€avail€himself€of€information€relevant€toÏthe€defense€removed€all€rational€support€from€that€decision.€€By€failing€to€make€any€effort€at€all€toÏfollow€the€lead€afforded€by€information€in€his€possession€counsel€precluded€himself€from€makingÏa€rational€decision€on€the€question].)€€Even€if€counsel€has€legitimate€tactical€reasons€for€introducingÏno€evidence,€her€performance€is€still€inadequate€if€evidence€supporting€a€potentially€meritoriousÏdefense€remains€unexplored.€€(òòIn€re€Corderoóó€(1988)€46€Cal.3d€161,€181.)Ð X ¨ Ðà  àFederal€courts€relying€on€the€òòStricklandóó€decision€have€held€that€a€failure€to€investigateÐ 0"€  Ðdefenses€based€upon€the€defendant's€mental€health€is€ineffective€assistance.€€(òòBouchillon€v.€CollinsóóÐ $X" Ð(5th€Cir.€1990)€907€F.2d€589,€òòProfitt€v.€Waldronóó€(5th€Cir.€1987)€831€F.2d€1245,€òòBeavers€v.€BalkcomóóÐ à%0!$ Ð(5th€Cir.€1981)€636€F.2d€114.)€€Ìà  àWalter€is€a€man€who€by€all€accounts€suffered€severe€and€permanently€debilitating€brainÏdamage€in€1984.€€Trial€counsel€did€not€bother€to€investigate€this€defense€even€though€he€was€chargedÐ h+¸&* Ðwith€a€specific€intent€crime€which€carried€a€life€term.€€Even€when€she€obtained€the€psychiatricÏevaluation€indicating€that€Walter€may€not€have€known€right€from€wrong€at€the€time,€she€did€nothingÏwith€it€except€to€ask€the€court€to€impose€a€"short€prison€sentence".€€She€did€not€ask€the€court€toÏdismiss€the€aggravating€portion€of€the€charge€pursuant€to€Penal€Code€section€1385€so€to€make€WalterÏeligible€for€a€determinate€term.€€Nothing€in€the€record€suggested€that€she€had€considered€theÏpossibility€of€doing€so.Ìà  àObviously,€a€very€aggressive€habeas€investigation€needed€to€be€done€here.€€Trial€counsel€hadÏto€be€contacted€so€that€it€could€be€determined€why€she€advised€Walter€to€plead€to€the€aggravatedÏmayhem€charge;€why€she€thought€there€was€sufficient€evidence€of€aggravated€mayhem€despite€caseÏlaw€to€the€contrary;€why€she€did€not€have€a€psychiatric€evaluation€done€until€after€the€plea;€why€sheÏdid€not€ask€the€court€to€appoint€counsel€to€bring€a€motion€to€withdraw€the€plea€once€she€received€theÏpsychiatric€evaluation;€and€why€she€thought€the€court€could€sentence€Walter€to€a€state€hospital€or€toÏa€short€prison€sentence€in€spite€of€the€language€of€section€205.€Ìà  àD.€€òòThe€Panel€Attorneyððs€InvestigationóóÐ ¨ø ÐÓ  Ó__________ÌÓ’EÓÓÓà8  àð ðMen€occasionally€stumble€over€the€truth,€but€most€of€them€pick€themselves€up€andÏhurry€off€as€if€nothing€every€happened.ðð€€„€òòSir€Winston€Churchillóó€(1874„1965)ÐD!”Ð Ð  ÐÌÓ¹EÓà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h à€€€€€€€€__________€€à p àÐ #l! Ðà  àThe€panel€attornñ>ñeñ>ñy€first€submitted€a€letter€pursuant€to€California€Rules€of€Court,€rule€35(e)׃ ×Ý ƒ #ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ô$D # Ðfor€the€remainder€of€the€reporterððs€transcript€of€the€sentencing€hearing.€€When€we€received€theÏtranscript,€it€revealed€that€Walter€had€never€been€aggressive€or€violent€until€after€the€accident€inÐ ¤(ô#' Ðwhich€he€sustained€brain€damage.€€It€further€revealed€that€it€was€after€his€association€with€HeavenððsÏGate€that€he€began€believing€he€communicated€with€demons€and€angels.€€Most€telling€was€theÏtestimony€of€Dr.€David€Echeandia,€who€opined€that€Walter€was€experiencing€acute€symptoms€of€aÏmental€disorder€during€the€assault€on€Linda€and€Noble.€€Dr.€Echeandia€pointed€out€that€during€theÏincident,€Walter€had€referred€to€the€victims€as€ð ðdemonsðð,€and€stated€that€several€sources€ofÏinformation€led€him€to€believe€that€Walter€was€actually€seeing€one€if€not€both€of€the€victims€asÏdemons.€€Ìà  àDr.€Echeandia€noted€that€jail€staff€recorded€Walterððs€references€to€demons,€angels,€andÏinventions.€€Walter€thought€Noble€was€a€demon€because€he€often€wore€red.€€These€references€wereÏmade€immediately€upon€being€booked.€€Jail€medical€staff€had€determined€that€Walter€was€psychotic.€ÏHe€suffered€through€an€extended€period€of€psychotic€disturbance€for€a€couple€of€weeks€before€theÏanti„psychotic€medications€caused€the€more€acute€symptoms€to€recede.€€€Dr.€Echeandiaððs€diagnosisÏwas€that€Walter€suffered€from€dementia€and€organic€personality€disorder.€€Ìà  àArmed€with€this€very€important€information,€the€panel€attorney€also€contacted€Walterððs€trialÏattorney,€a€Santa€Clara€County€public€defender.€€Interestingly€enough,€Walterððs€case€was€one€of€theÏlast€cases,€if€not€the€last€case,€that€she€had€handled€before€retiring.€€Trial€counsel€stated€in€a€letter€thatÏshe€had€thoroughly€discussed€the€case€with€her€supervisors€and€they€all€concurred€that€Walter€wouldÏbe€ð ðmore€successfulðð€if€he€did€not€have€a€trial.€€She€acknowledged€that€Walter€had€suffered€a€seriousÏhead€injury€with€subsequent€psychological€and€neuropsychological€dysfunction€which€led€toÏcognitive€deficits,€behavioral€outbursts,€impulsivity,€and€aggressive€behavior.€€€€She€stated€that€sheÏdid€not€believe€an€insanity€defense€would€be€successful,€though€she€had€considered€whether€WalterððsÏmental€deficiencies€could€be€used€as€a€defense€to€negate€specific€intent.€€She€also€stated€that€she€hadÐ h+¸&* Ðnot€tried€to€use€an€insanity€defense€because€ð ðif€it€was€successful,€Mr.€Jones€would€never€be€releasedÏfrom€psychiatric€custody,€because€his€behavior€stemmed€from€a€brain€trauma€which€would€notÏrespond€to€treatment.ðð€€With€respect€to€her€request€for€a€short€prison€sentence,€trial€counsel€statedÏthat€she€had€ð ðrequested€a€short€determinative€[sic]€prison€sentence€before€he€would€begin€his€lifeÏsentence€with€eligibility€for€parole.€€However,€I€did€explain€to€Mr.€Jones€that€in€my€opinion€he€wouldÏnever€be€released€from€custody.ðð€€Ìà  àBecause€trial€counselððs€letter€did€not€address€the€paucity€of€evidence€to€support€theÏaggravated€mayhem€charge,€the€panel€attorney€wrote€to€her€again€specifically€asking€her€toÏsummarize€the€evidence€that€suggested€to€her€that€Walter€had€a€specific€intent€to€cause€the€injury€asÏa€result€of€which€Linda€Jones€lost€the€sight€in€one€eye.€€Ìà  àE.€€òòThe€Petition€For€Writ€Of€Habeas€Corpus€In€the€Court€Of€AppealóóÐ  p ÐÓ  Ó______________ÌÓÓà8 @ àð ðFacts€do€not€cease€to€exist€because€they€are€ignored.ðð€€„€òòAldous€Huxleyóó€(1894„1963),€ð ðProperÐ Ð  ÐStudiesðð,€1927ÌÓ&UÓ______________ÌÓ UÓà  àñ?ñMr.€Staleyñ?ññ@ñThe€panel€attorneyñ@ñ€filed€a€òòWendeóó€brief€accompanied€by€a€petition€for€a€writ€of€habeas€corpus.€Ð €Ð ÐThe€petition€argued€that€the€judgment€of€guilt€should€be€reversed€because€defense€counsel€madeÏnumerous€errors€which€had€the€cumulative€effect€of€depriving€appellant€of€the€effective€assistanceÏof€counsel.€€ñAñThe€panel€attorneyñAññBñMr.€StaleyñBñ€pointed€out€that€a€forensic€report€prepared€prior€to€the€entry€ofÏWalterððs€guilty€plea€suggested€that€an€insanity€defense€could€possibly€be€raised,€and€stated€thatÏfurther€studies€should€be€done€to€determine€whether€such€a€defense€could€in€fact€be€raised.€€DespiteÏthis,€ñCñtrial€counselñCññDñCarmichaelñDñ€had€failed€to€request€any€additional€mental€examinations;€failed€to€advise€WalterÏof€the€possibility€of€raising€an€insanity€defense;€and€failed€to€make€a€motion€to€withdraw€the€guiltyÐ h+¸&* Ðplea.€€Ìà  àThe€Sixth€District€Court€of€Appeal€affirmed€the€judgment€and€summarily€denied€the€petitionÏfor€writ€of€habeas€corpus.€€€€€€€€Ìà  àF.€€òòThe€Petition€For€A€Writ€Of€Habeas€Corpus€In€The€California€Supreme€CourtóóÐ 8 ˆ ÐÓ  Ó_____________________Ìà8 @ àð ðVictory€belongs€to€the€most€persevering.ðð€€„€€òòNapoleon€Bonaparteóó€(1769„1821)Ð è 8  Ð_____________________€ÌÓ¼ZÓà  àFollowing€the€affirmance€of€the€judgment€and€denial€of€the€petition€by€the€Court€of€Appeal,Ïthe€panel€attorney€filed€a€petition€for€review€as€well€as€a€new€petition€for€writ€of€habeas€corpus€inÏthe€California€Supreme€Court.€€The€petition€was€virtually€identical€to€that€filed€in€the€Court€ofÏAppeal€with€one€very€important€addition:€€a€declaration€from€trial€counselððs€supervisor€contradictingÏher€story€that€she€had€thoroughly€discussed€the€case€with€him€and€that€he€had€concurred€with€herÏdecision€to€advise€Walter€to€enter€a€guilty€plea.Ìà  àThis€information€was€obtained€somewhat€Ô_ÔserendipitouslyÔ_Ô.€€Michael€Kresser,€executiveÏdirector€of€SDAP,€had€been€a€personal€acquaintance€of€the€supervising€attorney€for€many€years€andÏwas€quite€surprised€by€trial€counselððs€rendition€of€events.€€Michael€contacted€the€supervisingÏattorney,€who€was€equally€surprised.€€Michael€relayed€this€information€to€me,€and€I€in€turn€tippedÏoff€the€panel€attorney.€€He€then€contacted€the€supervising€attorney€who€prepared€a€declaration€statingÏthat€he€had€read€the€petition€for€writ€of€habeas€corpus€as€well€as€trial€counselððs€letter€to€the€panelÏattorney€describing€her€thought€process.€€The€supervising€attorney€stated€further€that€had€he€knownÏall€the€facts€which€were€set€forth€in€the€petition,€he€would€not€have€recommended€an€early€guilty€pleaÏwithout€a€thorough€consideration€of€how€certain€facts,€such€as€Walterððs€head€injury,€would€supportÐ h+¸&* Ða€plea€of€not€guilty€by€reason€of€insanity€or€would€support€a€defense€to€specific€intent€charges€orÏmight€mitigate€the€sentence.€€The€supervising€attorney€further€stated€that€he€could€not€imagine€thatÏhe€would€have€advised€trial€counsel€to€have€Walter€plead€to€all€counts€and€enhancements,€includingÏan€aggravated€mayhem,€had€he€been€presented€with€all€the€available€facts.€€à x àÐ 8 ˆ Ðà  àG.€€òòIssuance€Of€The€Order€To€Show€Cause€And€The€Proceedings€In€The€Trial€CourtóóÐ  ` Ðà  àThe€Supreme€Court€issued€an€order€to€show€cause€returnable€in€the€trial€court€whereÏfollowing€an€evidentiary€hearing,€Walterððs€conviction€was€reversed.€€The€district€attorney€chose€toÏretry€him,€charging€him€with€two€counts€of€attempted€murder€as€to€Linda€Jones€and€Lowell€NobleÏ(Penal€Code€sections€664/187);€two€counts€of€elder€abuse€under€circumstances€likely€to€cause€greatÏbodily€injury€as€to€Linda€Jones€and€Lowell€Noble€(Penal€Code€section€368,€subd.€(b)(1)),€each€withÏa€great€bodily€injury€enhancements€(Penal€Code€section€12022.7,€subd.€(e));€two€counts€of€assaultÏby€means€of€force€likely€to€cause€great€bodily€injury€as€to€Linda€Jones€and€Lowell€Noble€(Penal€CodeÏsection€245,€subd.€(a)(1));€one€count€of€resisting,€delaying,€or€obstructing€a€peace€officer€(Penal€CodeÏsection€148,€subd.€(a)(1));€and€one€count€of€battery€against€a€peace€officer€(Penal€Code€section€243,Ïsubd.€(b).)€€Interestingly€enough,€the€charge€of€aggravated€mayhem€was€dropped.€€As€to€the€twoÏattempted€murder€counts,€the€information€alleged€that€Walter€acted€willfully,€deliberately,€and€withÏpremeditation.€€(Penal€Code€sections€664,€187,€189.)€€As€to€all€of€the€charges€with€the€exception€ofÏthe€two€involving€peace€officers€its€was€alleged€that€Walter€personally€inflicted€great€bodily€injuryÏon€a€person€more€than€70€years€old.€€(Penal€Code€section€12022.7,€subd.€(c).)Ìà  àWalter€pled€not€guilty€by€reason€of€insanity.€€Following€the€guilt€phase,€the€jury€deliberatedÏfor€more€than€five€days€before€advising€the€court€that€it€was€hopelessly€deadlocked€as€to€theÏallegations€that€Walter€had€acted€willfully,€deliberately,€and€with€premeditation€on€the€two€attemptedÐ h+¸&* Ðmurder€charges.€€As€to€those€allegations,€a€mistrial€was€declared.€€The€jury€later€returned€verdictsÏof€guilty€on€all€eight€counts€and€found€all€remaining€special€allegations€to€be€true.Ìà  àFollowing€the€sanity€phase€of€the€trial,€the€jury€concluded€that€Walter€was€sane.€€He€wasÏsentenced€to€a€total€term€of€16€years€in€state€prison€as€opposed€to€his€initial€sentence€of€life€in€prisonÏwith€possibility€of€parole€consecutive€to€nine€years.ÌÓ  ÓIII.ÌCONCLUSION€Ì__________________ÌÓÓÓ  Óà8  àà8` Ð Ð àð ðHere€lies€Jack€Williams.€€He€done€his€damnedest.ðð€€„€€epitaph€on€aÏgrave€marker€in€the€cemetery€at€Tombstone,€ArizonaÐ ` x` x ÐÓlÓÌ__________________ÌÌÓlÓÓ  Óà  àWalter€Jones,€a€man€who€had€suffered€a€severe€injury€resulting€in€irreversible€brain€damageÏand€who€basically€operates€at€the€intellectual€and€emotional€level€of€a€10„year„old,€was€sentencedÏto€life€in€prison€because€his€attorney€simply€did€not€take€a€good,€hard,€analytical€look€at€the€factsÏsurrounding€the€offenses€Walter€had€committed.€€This€error€was€almost€compounded€when€the€panelÏattorney€failed€to€ensure€that€the€record€was€complete,€and€failed€entirely€to€recognize€that€WalterÏhad€not€been€effectively€advised€before€entering€his€guilty€plea.€€Cases€like€that€of€Walter€Jones€haveÏimportant€lessons€to€teach.Ìà  àA.€€òòApproach€The€Record€With€CuriosityóóÐ ô$D # Ðà  àIn€reading€a€record,€have€the€mind€set€that€anything€could€have€happened.€€This€case€involvedÏa€guilty€plea€following€a€serious€crime€in€which€two€people€were€severely€injured.€€Absent€aÏcertificate€of€probable€cause,€oneððs€initial€expectation€would€be€that€if€anything,€there€would€beÐ |*Ì%) Ðnothing€more€than€some€minor€sentencing€issues.€€A€perfunctory€reading€of€the€record€would€revealÏthat€Walter€was€appropriately€voir€dired€before€entering€his€plea,€and€that€he€was€correctly€sentencedÏto€the€crimes€to€which€he€admitted.€€But€if€we€begin€our€record€review€with€the€idea€that€thereððsÏalmost€always€something,€we€may€be€surprised€at€what€will€turn€up.Ìà  àB.€€òòBe€Sure€The€Record€Is€CompleteóóÐ  ` Ðà  àThere€is€virtually€no€part€of€the€record€that€does€not€at€least€have€the€potential€to€be€importantÏto€the€appeal.€€In€the€case€of€Walter€Jones,€I€saw€that€a€large€portion€of€the€reporterððs€transcript€ofÏthe€sentencing€hearing€was€missing.€€This€portion€turned€out€to€contain€the€testimony€given€byÏWalterððs€family€and€friends€attesting€to€his€mental€state,€and€more€importantly,€the€testimony€of€aÏmental€health€professional€whose€opinion€it€was€that€Walter€was€experiencing€acute€symptoms€ofÏa€mental€disorder€during€the€assault.€€Ìà  àC.€€òòWas€The€Client€Properly€Advised€To€Plead€Guilty?óóÐ øH Ðà  àEven€in€guilty€plea€cases,€always€check€to€see€whether€it€appears€there€was€sufficientÏevidence€to€support€the€charges€which€the€client€was€advised€to€admit.€€Granted,€there€may€be€timesÏwhen€it€is€wise€to€advise€a€client€to€plead€to€something€that€perhaps€the€district€attorney€possiblyÏcould€not€prove€to€avoid€being€charged€with€something€worse€that€certainly€could€be€proved.€ÏHowever,€whenever€the€charge€appears€to€be€unsupported€by€what€is€known€about€the€facts€of€theÏcase,€start€investigating.€€Ask€both€the€trial€attorney€and€the€client€for€the€strategy€behind€the€plea.€ÏThere€may€be€a€reasonable€strategy,€and€there€may€not€be,€in€which€case€there€is€some€explainingÏto€do.€€In€this€case,€it€did€not€appear€that€there€was€sufficient€evidence€to€support€an€aggravatedÏmayhem€charge.€€Trial€counselððs€strategy€was€to€advise€the€client€to€plead€to€this€to€avoid€twoÏattempted€murder€charges.€€This€was€not€a€reasonable€strategy€since€the€aggravated€mayhem€carriedÐ h+¸&* Ða€mandatory€sentence€of€life€in€prison.€€The€client€received€no€real€benefit€from€that€plea€bargain.€ÏSo€the€reasons€given€by€counsel€must€be€carefully€considered€to€determine€whether€there€was€aÏstrategic€decision€to€proceed€in€a€particular€way,€and€if€so,€whether€it€was€a€reasonable€one.Ìà  àD.€€òòDonððt€Be€Afraid€To€Ask€The€Tough€Questions€And€To€Follow€ThroughóóÐ 8 ˆ Ðà  àNo€one€wants€to€unnecessarily€ruffle€feathers.€€Unfortunately,€it€is€sometimes€necessary.€€InÏthis€case,€the€panel€attorney€did€not€simply€accept€at€face€value€trial€counselððs€assertions€that€herÏsupervisors€agreed€with€her€strategy.€€By€questioning€the€veracity,€or€at€least€the€accuracy,€of€thatÏstatement,€he€discovered€that€it€wasnððt€necessarily€so.€€Her€supervisors€had€not€been€aware€of€all€theÏfacts€at€the€time€the€case€was€discussed.€€So€it€paid€off€here€to€check€further€and€verify€what€hadÏoccurred€with€each€person€along€the€time€line€from€arraignment€to€sentencing.€€Ìà  àE.€€òòDonððt€Hesitate€To€Ask€SDAP€For€Help€Or€AdviceóóÐ  p Ðà  àMany€times,€we€at€SDAP€have€resources€available€to€us€that€panel€attorneys€may€simply€notÏbe€in€a€position€to€know€about.€€For€example,€in€the€case€of€Walter€Jones,€Michael€Kresser€justÏhappened€to€have€a€€personal€relationship€with€the€supervising€attorney,€disbelieved€trial€counselððsÏassertion€that€the€supervising€attorney€had€agreed€with€her€handling€of€the€case,€and€was€able€toÏdiscuss€the€case€with€him.€€The€resulting€declaration€contradicting€trial€counsel€in€all€probabilityÏplayed€a€large€part€in€the€Supreme€Courtððs€decision€to€issue€the€order€to€show€cause.€€Feel€free€toÏdiscuss€with€us€what€your€investigation€has€turned€up.€€We€may€be€able€to€tap€into€resources€thatÏmay€not€otherwise€be€available€or€known€to€you.€€€€€€Ìà  àF.€€òòClosingóóÐ ¸'#& Ðà  àIn€closing,€habeas€work€can€be€difficult,€demanding,€and€time€consuming.€€It€can€also€beÏextraordinarily€rewarding€to€you€as€appellate€counsel,€and€invaluable€to€your€client.€€We€at€SDAPÐ h+¸&* Ðwill€do€all€we€can€to€support€your€efforts€in€this€area€where€there€exists€a€legitimate€basis€for€aÏhabeas€petition.€ñEñÌñEñ