The Garden City Telegram
Email this story | Add Your Comment
| Read (0) Comments
Teen ruled competent to stand trial
Published 10/31/2009 in Local News : Police
By RACHAEL GRAY
A Garden City man accused of raping, sodomizing and murdering a Deerfield girl has been declared competent to stand trial.
Judge Michael L. Quint ruled Friday that Joaquin De Anda, 18, will stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, rape and aggravated criminal sodomy in the December 2008 death of Julia Quintana, 16.
In an opinion sent Friday, Quint wrote that De Anda understands the charges against him, understood he should consult a lawyer before talking to police, and is aware if found guilty he could serve a lengthy jail sentence.
Quint said De Anda had provided detailed information to his evaluators for the defense that allows for a defense to be developed.
"The only consistent confusion appears to be derived from the defense attorney having connections with the Death Penalty Defense Unit which show up on all her pleadings early on, to the confusion of the public, the defendant and to the irritation of the Court," Quint wrote.
De Anda had mentioned to several evaluators that he could face the death penalty.
"This is not a death penalty case, and Mr. De Anda is not subject to that penalty," Quint wrote.
Quint said De Anda reported he is familiar and comfortable with legal counsel, conveyed his belief that his attorney is working in his best interest and he expressed awareness of attorney-client privilege.
Quint pointed to the evaluation from Dr. Steffan, who noted De Anda showed an understanding of the "object, stages, and content of criminal legal proceedings and the roles and responsibilities of major courtroom participants," and can challenge witness testimony, practice proper courtroom decorum and exercise plea options.
Quint made the ruling after hearing from doctors and mental health officials Oct. 22 and De Anda's defense lawyer Oct. 23.
Two doctors, Dr. Jarrod Steffan and Dr. William Logan, suggested De Anda may suffer from disorganized schizophrenia and deemed him incompetent to stand trial unless treated with the proper medication to establish competency.
De Anda was admitted to St. Catherine Hospital in November after an alleged suicide attempt, and he had been taking anti-depressants and antipsychotic medications, according to testimony from Logan and Steffan.
Other testimony came from a doctor and mental health evaluator who said De Anda was competent to stand trial.
Dr. Regis Lopata of Larned State Hospital, where the court sent De Anda in late May for a competency evaluation, ruled him competent.
Lisa Southern of Area Mental Health, who evaluated De Anda in February, also said De Anda was competent to stand trial.
De Anda's defense lawyer, Melanie Freeman-Johnson, a member of the Kansas Death Penalty Defense Unit in Topeka, told the court she had observed qualities about De Anda similar to those observed by the two doctors who stated De Anda is incompetent to stand trial.
Freeman-Johnson said De Anda displays insufficient memory and lack of rationally communicating, which could impede in the defense of his case.
According to testimony during the competency hearing, De Anda's history with mental health services began in 2008 in La Junta, Colo., after he allegedly set fire to his mother's boyfriend's house.
De Anda was arrested Dec. 21, 2008, on allegations of first-degree murder, rape, aggravated criminal sodomy and felony obstruction of legal process in connection with the death of Quintana, whose body was found in a Dumpster on Dec. 16, 2008 in the west alley behind De Anda's former residence at 1009 N. Fourth St.
Evidence from an autopsy disclosed that Quintana died of suffocation, sustained a broken neck and was sexually assaulted, police said.
De Anda was a former classmate of Quintana's at the New Outlook Academy, 1401 Jones Ave. Police said the two individuals were acquaintances at school.
Found 0 comment(s)!
Twitter Updates
