People v. Watkins CA1/4

Filed 3/27/26 P. v. Watkins CA1/4 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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, A173093

v. (Alameda County ANDREW WATKINS, Super. Ct. No. 24MH0021221) Defendant and Appellant.

Defendant was found incompetent to stand trial and committed to the Department of State Hospitals (the Department) (Pen. Code1, § 1368). At issue in this appeal is an involuntary medication order under section 1370, subdivision (a)(2)(B)(i)(I) and (II). Defendant argues that the court’s order is not supported by substantial evidence. We affirm. BACKGROUND The People filed a felony complaint against defendant alleging multiple counts of assault. The trial court thereafter adjudicated defendant incompetent pursuant to section 1368 and ordered him committed. The court also issued an initial

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code.

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involuntary medication order, finding that defendant lacked the capacity to make decisions regarding antipsychotic medication, and that his mental disorder, if not treated, would result in serious harm to his physical or mental health. Defendant was admitted to Atascadero State Hospital (Atascadero) in May 2024. In February 2025, the Department moved to renew the court’s involuntary medication order, and the court held hearings in March 2025 on this motion. Dr. Sonya Jackson, defendant’s treating psychiatrist at Atascadero, was the only witness.2 Dr. Jackson testified that she saw defendant weekly, she had reviewed his records, and she had spoken with members of his treatment team. Dr. Jackson diagnosed defendant with schizophrenia. His symptoms included hearing voices and poverty of speech and thought, with the latter meaning that he has “difficulty elaborating” when expressing himself and often nods rather than providing verbal responses. Schizophrenia requires treatment with antipsychotic medication, and there are no other viable treatment options. When Dr. Jackson asked defendant which medications helped him, he answered, “I don’t know.” When Dr. Jackson asked what led to defendant’s most recent arrest, defendant said he “was having an episode” that included hearing voices. At Atascadero, defendant acknowledged that he heard voices and