DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel found a shooting defendant mentally competent in a pre-sentencing evaluation on Aug. 6.
On June 4, Reginald Datcher, 54, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict for his involvement in a shooting that occurred on July 20, 2024, on the 400 block of Hillside Road, SE. Nobody was injured.
According to court documents, defense attorney Charles Haskell asked for a forensic examination of Datcher because he claimed to be hearing his wife in his head. After the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) examined him, they deemed him competent to continue to sentencing.
Judge Israel acknowledged that while Datcher has mental health issues, he still understands the proceedings, which is the legal threshold for competency.
Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 3 for sentencing.
