Friday, October 30, 2015
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A man who was found incompetent to stand trial was committed Thursday to eight years in a mental- health facility.
Judge Lou D’Apolito of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court made the decision after an evaluation of Deron Thomas, 33, of Youngstown, which was completed Aug. 6, found him unable to contribute to his own defense and that competency could not be restored within a year.
Williams was indicted on two counts of felonious assault, both second-degree felonies, for attacks on his father Sept. 28, 2014, and on a nurse at the Mahoning County jail Nov. 28.
His father testified in court Thursday that Williams stabbed him in the temple with a knife after an argument. The nurse testified that Williams punched her in the mouth and she had to have stitches in her ear and lip.
Legally, a defendant who is found not competent to stand trial has to be able to have that competency restored within a year in order to be tried at all.
The court will have jurisdiction over Williams for the next eight years, which is the maximum sentence for a second-degree felony.
Williams’ attorney, Robert Duffrin, explained to his client that if he cooperates with his doctors and responds to treatment, he gradually will be allowed more privileges.
Williams said nothing during the hearing.
Judge D’Apolito said the commitment is not just to get Williams treatment but to ensure he no longer is a threat to others when his treatment ends.
“We have to make sure the community is safe and you’re safe,” Judge D’Apolito said.