People v. Littlejohn-Jones CA2/8

DISCUSSION

On April 25, 2012, then 28-year-old Micah Littlejohn-Jones attacked a 60-year-old fellow patient at Metropolitan State Hospital. The victim suffered injuries requiring stitches on the top of his head, eyebrow, and cheek.2 In November 2012, the People filed an information charging Littlejohn-Jones with one count of assault by means of force likely to cause great bodily injury, with a great bodily injury enhancement. (§§ 245, subd. (a)(4); 12022.7, subd. (a). The information further alleged that he had suffered a prior strike conviction, which also qualified as a prior serious felony conviction. (§§ 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d); 667, subds. (b)-(i); 667, subd. (a)(1).) In December 2012, criminal proceedings were suspended when defense counsel declared a doubt as to Littlejohn-Jones’ mental competence. (§ 1368.) There were a series of review hearings over the ensuing several months. In June 2013, the trial court declared Littlejohn-Jones incompetent to stand trial and placed him in Patton State Hospital for treatment. At a hearing in March 2014, the trial court found Littlejohn-Jones had been restored to sanity and mentally competent; the court reinstituted criminal…