People v. Griffith CA6

I. INTRODUCTION

Defendant Howard Eugene Griffith was found incompetent to stand trial, committed to Napa State Hospital, and ordered to be involuntarily treated with antipsychotic medication. Defendant appeals from the order authorizing involuntary antipsychotic medication. He contends the order is not supported by substantial evidence that without antipsychotic medication, “it is probable that serious harm to the physical or mental health of [defendant] will result.” (Pen. Code, 1370, subd. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I).)1 We find substantial evidence supports that finding and we will therefore affirm the order authorizing involuntary antipsychotic medication.

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

II. BACKGROUND

A. Criminal Offense2 On the morning of October 7, 2012, defendant stabbed Nanito Osei with a steak knife. When police arrived, Osei was lying on the ground, bleeding. Osei pointed to defendant, who was sitting nearby, and identified defendant as the perpetrator. Police recovered a knife from a trash can and took defendant into custody. Defendant told the police he had met Osei earlier that day. Osei wanted to take a hat…