Opinion ID: 1747978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Finding of Competency

Text: It is well established that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the prosecution of a defendant who is not competent to stand trial. State v. Johns, 34 S.W.3d at 104 (citing Medina v. California, 505 U.S. 437, 439, 112 S.Ct. 2572, 120 L.Ed.2d 353 (1992)). A defendant is competent when he has sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and has `a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him.' Johns, 34 S.W.3d at 104 (citing and quoting Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 396, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 125 L.Ed.2d 321 (1993)). In Missouri a defendant is presumed competent, and has the burden of proving incompetence by a preponderance of the evidence. Section 552.020.8. Dr. English, the court-appointed expert, testified for the State. He indicated, inter alia, that Appellant had a fullscale IQ of 84, which was in the normal range of intelligence; that he found no indication of brain damage; that Appellant had some paranoid tendencies in his thinking but exhibited no pathological paranoia or delusional thinking; that he was able to answer questions in a rational, realitybased and goal-directed manner; and that he understood the charges he faced, the potential sentences or commitment, as well as the criminal trial process and roles of the various parties in it. Dr. English concluded that Appellant had the capacity to understand the proceedings against him and to assist in his defense. The trial defense experts, Drs. Lewis and Pincus, presented a considerably different assessment of Appellant. They testified, inter alia, that Appellant suffered some brain damage at birth, and that he also was delusional, suffered from major depression, was extremely paranoid in his thinking, and was so suspicious and distrustful of his lawyers that he was not able to effectively cooperate with them or assist in his own defense. However, a mere disagreement among experts does not necessarily indicate error on the part of the trial court. State v. Johns, 34 S.W.3d at 105. On the contrary, it is the duty of the trial court to determine which evidence is more credible and persuasive. Id. That is what occurred in this case. Near the conclusion of the pre-trial competency hearing, although initially expressing some reluctance to decide the matter, the trial court stated: We have an expert for the State that says one thing that's opposed by two experts for the defense. It's a factual question as far as I'm concerned. The court then found that Appellant was competent to stand trial. The trial court's determination of competency is one of fact, and must stand unless there is no substantial evidence to support it. State v. Petty, 856 S.W.2d 351, 353 (Mo.App.1993). In assessing sufficiency of evidence, this Court does not independently weigh the evidence, but accepts as true all evidence and reasonable inferences that tend to support the trial court's finding. State v. Johns, 34 S.W.3d at 105. We find that Dr. English's testimony presented adequate substantial evidence to support the trial court's finding that Appellant had sufficient ability to understand the proceedings against him and to assist in his defense.