CORRUPT SYSTEM FOR MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS/FAMILIES

  • by: Jessica Olsen
  • recipient: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, US STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ACLU OF WASHINGTON

GRANT COUNTY OF WASHINGTON STATE HAS LACK OF RESOURCES/PROGRAMS TO HELP FAMILIES/TEENS IN NEED OF DRUG USE. DRUGS ARE A MAJOR FACTOR IN GRANT COUNTY TO VICTIMS AND CRIMES. BECAUSE OF LACK OF RESOURCES JAIL AND PRISON SEEMS TO BE THE SOLUTION. HERE IS MY SONS STORY:
Date 12/16/2014
Since 2/14/2014
My 21 year old son has a Cerebral Palsy disability http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12369773?dopt=Abstract and a LRA plan and was not protected within the plan or disability/patient rights. About 2 month before crime my son received the LRA plan http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/wa-mental-health-system-involuntary-commitment from Frontier behavior Health in Spokane http://fbhwa.org/ that he spent a couple weeks residing for depression and suicidal thoughts and placed on Depakote meds.
Feb. 13, 2014 he went to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake for drug over dose of pills to commit suicide. Hospital had him drink that chalk medicine to clear system. My son told the urgent care physician that he was suicidal and needed help ASAP. The working physician in ER that night walked in and said “Oh you again?” My son got angry and walked out of hospital and went home. A little while later Moses Lake police officer was at his door and told him that he needed to go back to the hospital with him. The police officer then transported son back to hospital. Upon arrival my son continued to tell them he needed help from a mental hospital and drug rehab as he was hallucinating and felt harmful to himself. The hospital called crisis team at Grant County Mental Health that told him there is no bed and talked my son into being ok and hospital later released him and police officer gave him a ride home. (NOTE AGAIN MY SON HAD A LRA. If he is a danger to himself or anyone else he should be admitted back to mental hospital.) My son also had been receiving care from grant county mental health and asked several times to be taken off Depakote because of hallucinations’ and felt like harming himself. Meds were continued.
Next day Feb. 14, 2014 my son was still suicidal and depressed and began to drink vodka and take pills. Well into the night he allegedly committed a crime but he vaguely remembers from being under the influence. The crime was caught on video http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington?fId=246249231&fPath=/home&fDomain=10222. The SAME police officer from the night before that gave son a ride home from hospital apparently recognized son by a limp my son has from disability of cerebral palsy and clothing. This police officer knowing my son was suicidal at hospital the night before went to my sons house and arrested. Son does not remember reading rights and seeing search warrant. The police officers told them they would “help him” if he confessed the crime. Police found syringe found in son’s pocket (which was not in police record). His LRA again failed him and instead of taking my suicidal son to a hospital for mental treatment to gather state of mind he was booked into the Grant County Jail in Ephrata and was not under any suicidal watch. My son was also under meth influence as well as pills and alcohol when questioned by police. The police report does not state syringe was found and also reads son was not under any influence or was a sobriety test taken at any point. Also police report reads Spillman database noted son was mental health safety and made treats to kill. Why was my son on the streets and not in mental hospital???
Feb. 15th, 2014 after sobering up in jail and talking to everyone he realized what he had done and was very very upset and remorseful. He then got ahold of some chemicals and drank it to try to commit suicide. The jail then sent him back to hospital, cleared his system and then sent my still suicidal son BACK to grant county jail suicide watch tank (hole). My son was in a small room with cameras 24/7 to watch his bare naked body poo/urinate in a hole into the ground. Then when not suicidal, they put him in with the maximum security cells (not medical tanks for his disability and illnesses).
During his time in jail he was not giving his medication on several occasions. He is diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD, seizures and cerebral palsy. He asked to speak with nurse for a very sore throat and didn’t see her. Some medication is to help his muscle spasms from his disability and was not given a decent mat to sleep on and without his meds at times was unbearable.
After talking to public defender, my son finds out that the chief prosecutor, http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019103486_grantcounty09m.html http://www.qvpr.com/articles/albert-lin-sues-grant-county, wants 10 years of prison time because there is HARD evidence (video) of crime and wants to make an “example” out of my sons first time alleged offence with NO bargain. Robbery in the first degree and assault in the first degree (2 counts). The prosecutor said if case goes to trial he will add assault with deadly weapon charge (machete) and get 12 years to life.
After a month son was bailed out of jail and a couple days later his LRA terminated. Son went to see his long term counselor at Grant County mental Health, to express deep remorse and guidance. Son then went to Grant county Mental Health http://www.co.grant.wa.us/GrIS/Mental-Healthcare/ and explained to crisis manager http://www.ehealthscores.com/providers/izd-llcppcswff/YOLANDA-REYES.html that he felt he needed to go back to mental hospital. She told son he was trying to go because he was looking for a way out of his crime and they weren’t going to send him. Son then went to Samaritan hospital where they found a bed for him and sent him to Eastern State Hospital at Medical Lake http://www.dshs.wa.gov/mhsystems/eshmission.shtml and http://m.kxly.com/news/eastern-state-hospital-found-in-contempt-of-court/30240174 . He again was being refused services until a lead lady told hospital that he will get the care he needs.
4-4-14 son was involuntary court order admitted by Grant county mental health to Eastern for threat to himself or others and seeing 2 DOCTORS and social worker. During this time my son, under confidentiality talked about a lot of deep feelings he had during and under the influence of alcohol and Depakote drug that included hallucinations’, harm himself or others, nightmares etc. and requested again to be taken off Depakote med as he did not like these feelings. My son then was completely taken off Depakote med around 4-12-14 and did not remember conversations with Doctors in regards to thoughts of harming others nor conversation as seen in public report. He was then ordered a 90 day involuntary treatment plan at Eastern. My son did not sign any of these court orders and as I view them it reads mental records shall be shared with Dept. of Corrections during incarceration and supervision.
April 22, 2014 Molly the social worker called me and explained some of son’s thoughts with me, including him not being remorseful for crime. I told her at this time that I felt he is saying what he can say to possibly stay at facility longer and get long term care that he deserves. I then told her at NO circumstances do I believe her for 1 minute that my son told her he isn’t remorseful of crime. I have talked to my son about this crime several times and heard his tears and sadness in his voice and why would he jeopardize saying something like this knowing it could be used against him. He then made a request to change counselor and social worker. I made a complaint with Eastern patient advocate and after a very short investigation said they are within the rights to disclose private information. Note this was during 72 hour evaluation and under influence of Depakote that side effects to my son are hallucinations’, anger and suicidal thoughts.
April 23rd 2014 my son’s intake private conversations with previous Doctors and social worker at Eastern had “somehow” leaked out by assistant Attorney General and made it to the prosecuting attorney at Ephrata court house and is a PUBLIC RECORD. NO order was submitted by court for private documentation. The prosecutor immediately took info to judge where his bail is set at $100,000 and as soon as he is released from Eastern he returns to jail. Can this NOW public document be used? Not sure how my son can get a fair trial. Sons public attorney seems to think case can’t be moved to other county. And public defender did NOTHING about public document for some time after I started calling around and finding out the right actions were not taken.
6-11-14 I met with Dr. and social worker about son not being ready to be released from Eastern and at this time she stated there is nothing more she can do for son. I stated he is still suicidal, depressed has nightmares, PTSD, meds being altered still and not able to make an impaired decision legally regards to trial or plea deal. Son was diagnosed with anti-social borderline disorder. She stated jail will be safe and as a doctor at eastern her job is only to make sure Nick is competent for trail. I disagree. Jail is NOT a safe place nor used as a continued treatment facility to treat mental disorders. Son is currently in maximum security with murders, was a struggle to get jail to give meds on time and in proper doses and is in a cell with what appears to be a schizophrenic and thinks my son is “out to get him.” SAFE????
6-13-14 my son submitted a request to appeal decision of release as Dr. is releasing prematurely including disputes statements made in error and can’t remember some statements that were release to courts. Son was never given a copy by anyone at Eastern to see report that was made public. Son was evaluated by rehab team at Eastern and recommended rehab for previous drug use. Eastern state hospital received his appeal and said they would hear back from them in 3 business days. 2 hours later Dr. and 3 weeks before 90 day involuntary order was up, Dr. requested the jail to come pick son up and take him back into custody. NO ORDER by the courts just a phone call by Dr. Seymore. My son is now in jail custody. Now his public defender is saying he needs an order from Eastern to ask judge to return him but Eastern will not do this. How is my son healthy enough to stand trial or understand a plea deal?
Sept 2014 my son was put in a cell with a mellow person to later removing the mellow inmate and replace him with a KNOWN crazy, fighting, threatening, violent person. He threatened to BEAT MY SONS SKULL in several times if he didn’t move his belongings or got in his way in the cell. My son is young, small, disabled and scared. This man is older, violent and beats people up in jail. With my sons disability he is not physically able to defend himself if the guy did beat him up. My son told his attorney several times and he said to keep putting kypes in. Shouldn’t he be trying to PROTECT my son? My son put in several kypes to be removed and was ignored repeatedly. Even told his lawyer and he did nothing. The nurse acted as if my son was complaining. I called the jail and asked the violent man be removed ASAP so that night they put MY SON IN THE HOLE! I called the nurse why wasn’t my son in the medical unit, he is disabled. Her response “Not everyone that is physically disabled goes into medical unit.” I asked why not. My son cannot defend himself from a violent person physically, can’t walk up and down the stairs, needs special shoes NOT flip flops because they don’t stay on his feet, has trouble getting up and down on the bunk beds.? She said there isn’t enough room. Well a couple days later a nice caring officer talked with my son and put him in the medical unit which upset the nurse. She treats my son terribly. My son has ask to speak with the doctor and put in several kypes to speak with doctor because his meds are not working and the nurse tells my son she didn’t see a kype or has missed placed it so he needs to fill out another one (only to loose it again). Grant county mental health has visited my son and also requested my son to speak with doctor and has been unheard still. She also told my son “I could give a shit about you criminals.” My son also has a restricted varicose vein in his testical that is causing severe pain http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/guys/varicocele.html My son has had 3 surgeries and was told before a crime was committed that he will need surgery again soon. My son has told the nurse at jail this several times and told his attorney only to be unheard still. My son calls his public defender attorney several times to leave a message and upon getting in contact with each other public defender had my son do leg work to get request/permission from doctor for surgery then public defender told him later it would be best NOT to bring up surgery now so attention is not brought to my son. My sons attorney told him he wants son to stay in jail until Feb after the election and hopefully this prosecutor wont stay in position and that a NEW one will take position and NEW prosecutor would hopefully be lenient and be easier to work with for plea.
Oct 2014 My son had been assigned a new prosecutor, a former police officer who got hooked on methamphetamine and wound up being convicted of a drug felony. http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019103486_grantcounty09m.html that is now saying 5-6 years and no plea. A few weeks back the public defender was saying to my son that the max would be 3 years.
When I spoke with the wife of the liquor store (owner/witness) she expressed to me that she thought my son should only serve 1.5-2 years and go to rehab. This is also what the public defender told me WHEN he was speaking with me. My son does not understand the verbiage that PD talks about with case. I contacted the boss of public defenders to see about getting a new public defender. Denied because the boss feels the PD is doing a good enough job towards case.
Nov 2014 after prosecutor election, the prosecutor won that we wanted to win http://www.ifiberone.com/news/prosecutor-blames-opponent-for-grant-county-s-lengthy-legal-battle/article_7351d36a-283f-11e4-a19a-001a4bcf6878.html and http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/article_bc5dedd0-5483-11e4-98c2-93c5105bede6.html?mode=jqm_com do your research on prosecutor its very lengthy! The prosecuting assistant made a deal with sons public defender of 51 months first degree burglary and weapon enhancement. No other deal would be offered. OMGOOOOOOSH! I really feel the PD and boss of PD got angry that we tried to get a new PD and took it out on my son. Why did they try to make a deal when the PD said stay out of sight to everyone until Feb and the new prosecutor would hopefully be easy to work with? Hmmmm its because the boss told me the old prosecutor has been MIA since he lost election for over a week so the assistant prosecutor is making deals so the NEW prosecutor will be in pressed and hopefully he can stay in his assistant prosecutor position because the new prosecutor don’t get along together. Also told me if my son doesn’t take the deal that no guarantees he would get a better offer because the new prosecutor wants to make a impression to public and be tougher on pleas. If my son goes to trial they will add witnesses (5) and add assault charges which takes max 12-15years. I am just sick! My son is so scared he is taking the deal.
Dec 2014 Court day was a JOKE! Judge gave my son 59 months!!!!!! Both the PD and prosecutor suggested 55 months. The judge stated since my son lunged at the witness to stay back when robbing store that added time was necessary. Mind you this was after the PD told judge no previous criminal history. The PD stood in front of the judge and basically tried to make a sympathy story to judge but totally made it sound like my son had a LOOOONG history and in my opinion sounded like he would reoffend. NOT! After sentencing the prosecutor came over to the police that were sitting in the court room in front of me and LAUGHED. PRICK!!!!! I could not believe it. A couple weeks later my son was sent to Washington Corrections center in Shelton for processing. As of today I still have not heard from my son. I called the prison and they stated my son is in R-4. What is that????? I told them he is disabled and should be in medical unit as he can’t physically defend himself with his disability. Someone is supposed to call me back and have not heard anything.
My son does have a history of drug use and been in and out of rehab and recently mental hospitals. He has seen many psychologist and counselors. My son has constantly asked for QUALITY long term help but to be denied or admitted for a couple days just to be released. My son is a great kid that made a very bad decision Feb 13, 2014. But beyond this crime I feel IF the system had done their job and followed the LRA plan the crime would not have happened. He was reaching out for help and no one followed through. Also I believe my son has rights under the disability and mental health patient rights and information within Eastern State Hospital should have NEVER got released to the prosecuting attorney. Seems as though Eastern picks and choses as to whom they release info about. Isn’t a Mental Hospital there to HELP mental patients? With the video of the crime and now confidential information my son has no chance at his trial in Grant County. We have asked public defender to request to move case to new county but he said it is highly unlikely the case will be moved.
My sons public defender wants to plea a deal with prosecutor to drop some charges, serve 6 years and prosecutor can then have all the publicity that he wants on case to hopefully enhance the upcoming election! Um what about all the holes and failures in this case? Use my son as an EXAMPLE!? Really? Public defender is forgetting the fact this is a FIRST OFFENSE, drug addict and mental issues with numerous attempts for help, on LRA plan that failed him, uses legal verbiage that son does NOT understand, I feel he is not fully prepared for case as when I had met with him a couple months back he seemed as tho he still hadn’t read complete file to build case. He will tell me one thing then say another later. This is my son. Very well mannered and liked. Many, many many friends and family asked for email address for Steven Kozer when son was arrested to write letters about my son to possible help. Ex volunteer fire fighter, volunteer services with the community, 2 year college student, Catholic School as child, loves animals, baptized as Christian, church going, boy scout as child, very supportive and loving family, loves family and life itself but had turned to drugs and alcohol to mask his PTSD pain from a horrible childhood and late teen memory. My son has constantly asked for help since age 17 for addiction but has not received adequate care EVER or been turned away repeatedly. I have included several websites (not all) showing how corrupt Grant County is and yet these people are the ones that make life decisions for our children that are strung out on drugs and request for help LOOOONG before a crime is committed.

? Frontier Behavior Health entered a LRA Plan
? Samaritan hospital did not follow LRA Plan, treat patient with respect and failed to provide patient with inpatient mental health services as request by LRA plan and patient
? Grant county jail did not follow LRA plan, disability rights, provide adequate care, or follow suicide watch guidelines
? Moses Lake Police department did not follow rights by law
? Grant County Mental Health did not follow LRA plan and refused services when patient asked for help several times
? Eastern State Hospital did not follow patient’s right, disability rights or confidentiality rights by patient nor did not follow up with patient’s appeal of premature release. less less

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