Judge refers defendant with wound and missed contacts to Center for Healthcare Services and orders attorney help

Presiding Judge Angelini ordered a referral to Center for Healthcare Services for a defendant who had been reported missing and returned with an infected wound, and directed the court to arrange for new counsel to meet with him. The order comes after family members and counsel told the court the defendant recently had a missing-persons report filed and that caseworkers had closed his prior case with the community behavioral-health provider.

The judge said she would "do a referral for you for Center for Healthcare Services" and added that she would attempt to get an attorney to come down to meet the defendant that day or the following day. The court set a 30-day reset and told the defendant to remain in the courtroom while the court tried to arrange an in-person meeting with an appointed attorney and outreach from the Center for Healthcare Services.

Why this matters: Counsel and family reported the defendant received medical treatment after the wound worsened while he was missing for about 10 days, and that the community provider had closed his case. The court’s referral is aimed at restoring community behavioral-health services, ensuring medical follow-up, and coordinating representation for the defendant while his criminal matter proceeds.

The court directed probation and court staff to provide contact information and to help coordinate the Center for Healthcare Services outreach and an attorney visit. The defendant was told to remain available for a possible same-day or next-day attorney visit and to provide contact numbers to staff. The judge emphasized the importance of communication with probation and of returning for the scheduled October reset date.