Court health evaluation: Jeffs mentally ill, but competent to stand trial

By Brent Hunsaker ABC 4

ST. GEORGE, UT (ABC 4 News) - On Tuesday, 5th District Court Judge James Shumate released a pair of mental evaluations of Warren Jeffs that had been previously sealed. One evaluation was by Tim Kockler, a Licensed Psychologist in St. George and the other by Associated Behavior Consultants of Holladay. The bottom line: Both agreed that Jeffs is manifesting the symptoms of "Depressive Disorder". (Nielsen called it a substantial mental illness.) Both agreed that the depression should not stop his trial from going forward. Judge Shumate secretly ordered the evaluations after a March 27th hearing. Jeffs appeared dazed during that hearing. He fell asleep several times. What's more, the already thin Jeffs had obviously lost even more weight. Eric Nielsen of Associated Behavior Consultants reported that Jeffs was "guarded and careful" during his interview on April 10th. Nielsen wrote that Jeffs "came across as mildly depressed" and there was evidence he'd been "struggling with symptoms of depression coupled with anxiety". Also, Jeffs would go days "refusing food and liquid" while spending "several hours on his knees praying". He prayed so long that he had "ulcers on both knees". At some point during his 10-month incarceration Jeffs was given medication. But when Nielsen interviewed Jeffs, he'd stop taking it. He told Nielsen, "When I found out I didn't have to take it, I stopped. I didn't feel like I needed it." The medication was apparently to treat his depression, although specific information was removed from the report by the judge. Nielsen concluded that while Jeffs was "unwilling to talk about any of the facts of his case", he did understand the charges against him and could participate with attorneys in his defense. That was all Judge Shumate needed hear. After agreeing to release the edited documents, he found Jeffs competent and ordered that he stand trial. That trial is now scheduled to begin with jury selection on September 7th. He's charged with 2 felony counts of "rape as an accomplice" for the forced marriage of a 14-year-old girl to her adult 1st cousin. brent@abc4.com

ABC4.com Originally broadcast May 29, 2007

Back

For more information email: