Posted on: Wednesday, July 6, 2005
Inmate at hospital withdraws request
By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer
A 50-year-old man has withdrawn his request to be conditionally released from Hawai'i State Hospital, where he has been committed off and on for 26 years in connection with driving a stolen van.
Lloyd Vasquez was acquitted by reason of insanity in 1979 for driving the van without permission from its car-rental owner. He was committed to the hospital and has been released several times, but recommitted each time after failing to follow conditions of his release, such taking his medication.
Vasquez, who has been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia and other mental problems, has been under the hospital's jurisdiction probably longer than any other patient committed to the Kane'ohe facility in connection with such a felony, which carries a prison term of up to five years.
His case highlighted the challenges facing the Health Department in dealing with the mentally ill at the state hospital as well as developing the resources in the community to care for the patients once they are conditionally released.
Vasquez's lawyer filed the request for the release earlier this year, but Deputy Public Defender Tyrus Buyama last month withdrew it without disclosing the reasons.
The withdrawal followed reports filed by two of three mental health professionals appointed by Circuit Judge Marcia Waldorf to evaluate Vasquez to see if he might be ready for release. Both found that he was not an appropriate candidate for release.
Psychiatrist Edward Furukawa reported that even though Vasquez is now in his eighth year of his present hospitalization, he still shows behavior that is "unpredictable, capricious and disruptive at times."
Psychologist Marvin Acklin reported that Vasquez has shown improvement. His treatment team apparently has not approved the release, and plans for his discharge have not been developed. Acklin also said Vasquez shows some resistance and lack of cooperation.
A hearing scheduled for yesterday before Waldorf on Vasquez's release request was canceled.
Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.
