Court Opinion

ID: 9896907
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-11-14 19:00:40.881606+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:14:51.952660
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-60107         Document: 00516966955             Page: 1      Date Filed: 11/14/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________
                                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 23-60107
                                     Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                     ____________                              November 14, 2023
                                                                                  Lyle W. Cayce
   United States of America,                                                           Clerk

                                                                       Plaintiff—Appellee,

                                             versus

   Lederrius Davonte Brown,

                                               Defendant—Appellant.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Northern District of Mississippi
                               USDC No. 3:21-CR-103-1
                      ______________________________

   Before Smith, Ho, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Lederrius Brown appeals his convictions of being a felon in possession
   of a firearm and aiding and abetting bank burglary. Brown contends that the
   district court erred in failing to convene a competency hearing sua sponte.
          A defendant “has a procedural due process right to a competency
   hearing if the evidence before the district court raises a bona fide doubt as to

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-60107      Document: 00516966955           Page: 2   Date Filed: 11/14/2023

                                     No. 23-60107

   [his] competence to stand trial.” United States v. Teijeiro, 79 F.4th 387, 393
   (5th Cir. 2023) (internal quotation marks, brackets, and citation omitted).
   We consider three factors in determining whether a district court reversibly
   erred in failing to convene a competency hearing sua sponte: “(1) any prior
   medical opinion on competency, (2) the defendant’s demeanor at trial, and
   (3) any history of irrational behavior.” Id. We need not decide whether our
   review is for plain error or for abuse of discretion, as Brown cannot prevail
   under either standard. See id. at 392–94.
          Brown’s mental status was evaluated by a prison psychologist. Based
   on interviews, observations of Brown’s behavior, and clinical testing, she
   determined that Brown suffered from a mild cognitive impairment related to
   a fall in 2020 but that he was malingering and exaggerating his symptoms in
   order to evade prosecution. Testing and observation indicated he under-
   stood the charges against him, and there was no objective evidence of any
   impairment to his ability to assist counsel in his defense. After the forensic
   evaluation was completed, Brown entered a guilty plea and indicated he
   understood the proceedings. The forensic evaluation and Brown’s demeanor
   during the rearraignment hearing strongly support the district court’s deci-
   sion not to convene a competency hearing sua sponte. Thus, there was no
   reversible error. See id. at 393–94.
          The judgment is AFFIRMED.

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