People v. Briggs CA1/4

Filed 9/25/24 P. v. Briggs CA1/4 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FOUR

THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A168609 v. RONNIE LYNN BRIGGS, (Contra Costa County Super. Ct. No. 04-22- Defendant and 01209) Appellant.

Defendant Ronnie Lynn Briggs was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to the Department of State Hospitals (the Department). The trial court determined that Briggs lacked the capacity to decide whether to take antipsychotic drugs, and, without the drugs, he would likely suffer serious harm to his physical or mental health. The court accordingly ordered Briggs to be involuntarily medicated under Penal Code1 section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I). Briggs argues that the court’s order is not supported by substantial evidence. We affirm. BACKGROUND After Briggs was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to the Department, the Department filed a petition for

1 All statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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an order to compel involuntary treatment of Briggs with antipsychotic medication under the procedures set forth in section 1370, subdivisions (a)(2)(C) and (a)(2)(D).2 The petition included the required certification from Briggs’s treating psychiatrist, who certified that involuntary medication was required and warranted under section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I) and (II). The petition followed an August 2, 2023 medication review hearing, at which an administrative law judge ordered that temporary involuntary antipsychotic medication be administered to Briggs. The trial court held a hearing on the Department’s petition and heard testimony from Briggs’s treating psychiatrist at Atascadero State Hospital, Dr. Joshua Deane. The court qualified Deane as an expert in psychiatric treatment of medical illness, and Deane testified that his job entailed taking care of patients in the units at the hospital, diagnosing their problems, and prescribing proper medication to improve their mental state. After hearing Deane’s testimony and argument from counsel, the court granted the petition and ordered Briggs to be involuntarily medicated under section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I). Briggs filed a timely appeal.