Opinion ID: 1133717
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Denial of Competent Mental Health Assistance

Text: Ponticelli claims he was denied the assistance of a competent mental health expert at the time of trial. This claim is nothing more than an attempt to relitigate the trial court's determination that Ponticelli was competent to stand trial. Therefore, it is procedurally barred because it was raised and denied on direct appeal. Ponticelli, 593 So.2d at 487. Second, even if this were a valid Ake [37] claim, it remains procedurally barred because it should have been raised on direct appeal. See Whitfield v. State, 923 So.2d 375, 379 (Fla.2005). Third, if it could be read as a claim that counsel was ineffective for failing to provide Ponticelli with a competent mental health expert, it is without merit. See Correll v. Dugger, 558 So.2d 422, 426 (Fla.1990) (finding that testimony at evidentiary hearing that defendant likely suffered brain damage from his significant drug use did not justify a finding that defendant was denied the assistance of a competent mental health professional because original experts knew of defendant's drug use). Therefore, we deny this claim.