Opinion ID: 2184813
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Competency of the Defendant

Text: The trial court conducted three competency hearings; the last occurred three months before trial. The court found the defendant competent. A week before trial, Haviland withdrew his insanity defense. At the close of the State's case-in-chief, but before presenting its own case, the defense called Dr. Paul Shriver to testify about Haviland's competency to stand trial. Dr. Shriver testified that he had spoken with Haviland for approximately twenty-five minutes and concluded that he was not competent. The trial court found that he remained competent. Haviland contends the court should have appointed examining doctors for a fourth competency hearing. His claim rests on Ind.Code § 35-36-3-1(a): (a) If at any time before the final submission of any criminal case to the court or the jury trying the case, the court has reasonable grounds for believing that the defendant lacks the ability to understand the proceedings and assist in the preparation of his defense, the court shall immediately fix a time for a hearing to determine whether the defendant has that ability. (West Supp.1996). A court is required to hold a hearing to determine the defendant's competency to stand trial only when it is confronted with evidence creating a reasonable doubt about the defendant's competency. Brewer v. State, 646 N.E.2d 1382 (Ind. 1995). Whether reasonable grounds exist to order an evaluation of competency is a decision assigned to the sound discretion of the trial court, reviewable only for an abuse of discretion. Brown v. State, 516 N.E.2d 29 (Ind.1987). The trial court had already held three competency hearings. On the eve of presenting its case, the defense offered a doctor who had spoken with the defendant for twenty-five minutes and whose opinion was already before the court from previous competency hearings. The cumulative presentation of this testimony did not oblige the court to start anew the process of assessing Haviland's competency.