WOODLAND, CA –Deputy District Attorney Aimee McLeod last week motioned to reprimand an unhoused, accused man in Yolo County Superior Courthouse after the court’s appointed doctor found the accused mentally competent to stand trial.
The motion introduced by DDA McLeod was met with opposition by Deputy Public Defender Stephen Betz, who asserted the reason for reprimanding the accused had no relation to the accused’s mental competency.
As of February, the accused faced a felony charge for vandalism and an enhancement for circumstances in aggravation. As of March, a separate case was filed regarding three different charges, all of which were misdemeanors: failing to register as a sex offender after prior conviction; trespass–entering an occupying real property; and disorderly conduct for peeking.
Thursday, in court, the deputy district attorney did not submit the doctor’s report regarding the accused’s mental competency. DDA McLeod requested a hearing or further information from the doctor to determine on how they should proceed.
Alternatively, DDA McLeod argued the accused should be reprimanded to ensure appearance at the next hearing. This is in light to the alleged circumstances with prior difficulty in reporting to probation.
DDA McLeod said it would enable probation to monitor the unhoused accused. Finding the accused if he were to not report to probation, would ensure SOR (supervised own recognizance) if the motion to reprimand was granted.
DPD Betz strongly opposed McLeod’s comments because, Betz said, the report did not indicate the accused was mentally incompetent for trial. Additionally, the reason for reprimanding him did not pertain to his mental competency.
Agreeing, Judge Daniel Wolk denied the motion to reprimand the accused.
The matter was set for a pretrial conference Friday, June 21, when the accused was ordered to appear. Here the court will re-analyze the doctor’s finding and determine if the accused is competent to stand trial.
The accused is now free on no bail/own recognizance release (OR); however, the additional motion to allow the accused to leave California if he were to be employed as a truck driver was denied.
