Opinion ID: 2551802
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prerequisite showing of competency

Text: At the heart of this controversy is NRS 178.425(5), which provides for dismissal of a criminal case where, as here, the defendant is adjudged incompetent with no substantial probability of obtaining competency in the foreseeable future. The central dispute is over the procedure used to reinitiate a criminal charge thus dismissed. The statute does not provide a procedure whereby charges can be refiled if, as happened in this case, the district attorney suspects that the defendant has obtained competency and can stand trial if the charges are refiled. Specifically at issue is whether a prerequisite showing of competency is required before the dismissed charges can be refiled. We conclude that respondents are correct in asserting that incompetence only prevents a criminal defendant from being tried or punished and has no bearing on whether a defendant can be charged with a crime. NRS 178.400(1) only states that [a] person may not be tried or adjudged to punishment for a public offense while he is incompetent. There is no restriction on charging an incompetent person with a crime. NRS 178.425(5) specifically contemplates refiling of criminal charges after a prior dismissal under that statute. However, the only restriction it imposes on refiling is that of the statute of limitations, merely clarifying that the statute of limitations runs from the date of the alleged offense and is not affected or tolled by any of the competency proceedings otherwise outlined in NRS 178.425, nor is it affected by a dismissal under NRS 178.425(5). The statute imposes no other restrictions on refiling, as refiling is specifically mentioned but not restricted except by the statute of limitations provision. We decline to impose a competency prerequisite, as we do not imply provisions not expressly included in [a] legislative scheme. SIIS v. Wrenn, 104 Nev. 536, 539, 762 P.2d 884, 886 (1988). With no prerequisite showing of competency mandated by statute, we conclude that the proper procedure to reinitiate a criminal charge previously dismissed under NRS 178.425(5) is identical to the procedure to initiate any other criminal charge, to wit: irrespective of whether there is probable cause that an accused is competent, an arrest warrant or summons may issue upon probable cause that a crime has been committed and that the named person committed it, and nothing more. NRS 171.106. [2] If no procedure is specifically prescribed by this title [Title 14, Procedure in Criminal Cases], the court may proceed in any lawful manner not inconsistent with this title or with any other applicable statute. NRS 178.610. Because the reinitiating of the criminal complaint against petitioner is not inconsistent with any other statute, and in fact is in complete accord with the probable cause requirements of NRS 171.106, we conclude that petitioner was properly charged, properly arrested and properly brought before the justice's court. In light of this conclusion, we now address additional issues raised by this petition.