| Court opens Jeffs' papers | |
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By Patrice St. Germain patrices@thespectrum.com | |
HURRICANE - Polygamist leader Warren Steed Jeffs, 51, has been suffering from depression and anxiety and at least one of the two mental health experts that examined him said he suffers substantial mental illness. The information came from two evaluations submitted to 5th District Court in response to a petition from Jeffs' attorneys to determine if the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was competent to stand trial. Friday, a 5th District Court judge determined that the documents should be made public. Judge James E. Shumate also ruled that Jeffs is competent to stand trial on two counts of rape as an accomplice for allegedly arranging a marriage between an underage girl and her adult cousin. Jeffs' jury trial is scheduled for two weeks in September. In the petition on Jeffs' competency, his attorneys, Walter Bugden, Tara Isaacson and Richard Wright, argue that since his pretrial detention at Purgatory Correctional Facility, their client has experienced substantial weight loss, was physically frail, feeble, gaunt and emaciated. It also states that Jeffs appeared to be detached, confused and unclear about "everything transpiring in court" during a March 27 hearing. The attorneys asked for Jeffs to be examined by Eric Nielsen, a mental health expert who works for Associated Behavior Consultants Inc. Nielsen evaluated Jeffs on April 10 and it was his conclusion that Jeffs suffers a substantial mental illness. Attempts to reach Bugden Tuesday were unsuccessful. Nielsen said Jeffs did not appear to be paranoid during the evaluation but was careful what information he revealed and came across as mildly depressed. There was also ample evidence in the chart that Jeffs has been struggling with symptoms of depression coupled with anxiety. "This is illustrated by the fact he has spent several hours on his knees praying, consequently, he developed ulcers on both knees. During these times, he was uncommunicative. It appears he is capable of communicating but chooses not to," Nielsen said in his report. Jeffs also told Nielsen that he didn't consider himself special. Booked in 2006, Jeffs, according to his attorneys, was optimistic and upbeat when they first began representing him. At some point in January, Jeffs spent long periods kneeling in prayer, spending so much time on his knees that he developed ulcers on them. He also refused food and water during this period. According to Nielsen's report, by February, Jeffs' mood was getting better but by his March 27 court appearance, Jeffs was, according to the report, catatonic, in a depressed state, complaining of anxiety and not functioning well. On Jan. 28 Jeffs was taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center for treatment after he was found "distressed" by jail medical staff. Although the exact reason for the trip has not been made public, Jeffs denied past suicidal or homicidal ideation in his evaluation with psychologist Tim Kockler. But in Kockler's report, it states that "records indicated self-injurious behavior." Kockler based his report, in which he found Jeffs suffering from no mental illness and said Jeffs was competent to stand trial, on his clinical interview and several other tests and information, including two Washington County Jail Detailed Incident reports. Both reports were dated March 28, 2007. One was 13 pages and the other, 167 pages. That was one day after Jeffs appeared in court for three motion hearings when he seemed very frail and asked to approach the bench. While both Kockler and Nielsen said Jeffs was competent to stand trial, Nielsen also stated that Jeffs was competent to proceed at this time. "However, he may suffer a relapse as he is not taking medication which would be prophylactic for him," Nielsen said in his report. Kockler said Jeffs understood the charges against him and the court proceedings. Kockler also said Jeffs meets DSM-IV criteria for Depressive Disorder NOS (Not otherwise specified). "Mr. Jeffs demonstrated a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against him," he said. Jeffs will next be in court on June 13 when his attorneys argue for a suppression of evidence. | |
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TheSpectruml.com Originally published May 30, 2007 | |
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