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Court orders inpatient competency restoration for two defendants; outpatient program unavailable locally
Summary
The judge found multiple defendants not competent to stand trial and ordered inpatient competency restoration placements (one up to 920 days, another up to one year), citing absence of a local outpatient restoration program.
At the 252nd District Court docket call the presiding judge found that two defendants remain not competent to stand trial and ordered inpatient competency‑restoration placements because the county lacks an outpatient restoration program.
The court reviewed a competency report dated April 14, 2026, for Brandon Bonton and found him not competent; the judge ordered inpatient restoration at an appropriate facility for a period not to exceed 920 days. During the hearing Bonton made several statements the court recorded while counsel discussed placement logistics.
Separately, the court took judicial notice of multiple psychiatric and medical reports for Jonathan Richard, including evaluations from the John Dunn Behavioral Science Center and a forensic psychiatry report. The court concluded Richard has not regained competency and ordered inpatient competency restoration placement for a period not to exceed one year, noting outpatient restoration is unavailable in Jefferson County.
The judge instructed prosecutors and defense counsel to check custody dates and the defendants' time already served so the court can coordinate return dates and placement timing. No trial dates were set while the inpatient restoration placements proceed.
