Filed: Oct. 10, 2014
Latest Update: Oct. 10, 2014
Summary: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION JOHN T. MAUGHMER, Magistrate Judge. On January 28, 2014, counsel for defendant Houck filed a motion pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4241 for a determination of the mental competency of the defendant to stand trial. That motion was granted and, prior to holding a hearing to determine the mental competency of the defendant, the Court entered its Order pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4241(b) directing that a psychological or psychiatric examination of the defendant be conducted and tha
Summary: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION JOHN T. MAUGHMER, Magistrate Judge. On January 28, 2014, counsel for defendant Houck filed a motion pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4241 for a determination of the mental competency of the defendant to stand trial. That motion was granted and, prior to holding a hearing to determine the mental competency of the defendant, the Court entered its Order pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 4241(b) directing that a psychological or psychiatric examination of the defendant be conducted and that..
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REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
JOHN T. MAUGHMER, Magistrate Judge.
On January 28, 2014, counsel for defendant Houck filed a motion pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4241 for a determination of the mental competency of the defendant to stand trial. That motion was granted and, prior to holding a hearing to determine the mental competency of the defendant, the Court entered its Order pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4241(b) directing that a psychological or psychiatric examination of the defendant be conducted and that a psychological or psychiatric report be filed with the Court pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 4247(b) and (c).
The Court has received the psychological or psychiatric report of Dr. Tiffany K. Brown which concluded that the defendant is competent to understand the nature and consequence of the proceedings against her and to assist properly in her defense. This report has been provided to and reviewed by counsel for the government and counsel for the defendant. On October 7, 2014, a hearing was held pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4247(d) for the purpose of determining the mental competency of the defendant to stand trial. At this hearing, counsel for the government and counsel for the defendant stipulated that the Court could consider the psychological or psychiatric report of Dr. Tiffany K. Brown as if Dr. Brown had appeared in person and testified under oath. No additional evidence was offered by the government or by the defendant.
Based on the record before the Court and the findings of Dr. Tiffany K. Brown, it is
RECOMMENDED that the District Court, after conducting its own independent review of the record, find that defendant Mindy M. Houck is competent to understand the nature and consequence of the proceedings against her and to assist properly in her defense.
Counsel are reminded that each has 14 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this Report and Recommendation to file and serve specific objections to the same. A failure to file and serve timely objections shall bar attack on appeal of the factual findings in this Report which are accepted or adopted by the District Judge except upon the ground of plain error or manifest injustice.
