DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz transferred a homicide defendant to a psychiatric hospital on May 28 for additional observations about his mental competency.
Lavaughn Barnes, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal beating and dismembering of Abdulio Arias-Lopez on Nov. 4, 2022 on the 1300 block of Kearny Street, NE.
At the last hearing on May 22, at the request of the defense, Judge Kravitz ordered a preliminary competency evaluation for Barnes. To stand trial, Barnes must understand the charges against him and be able to assist in his own defense.
At the hearing, Judge Kravitz said the report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) filed on May 27 said they needed further evaluation to determine Barnes’ competency. DBH recommended a full evaluation on an out-patient basis, which Judge Kravitz presumed meant at the DC Jail.
Hannah Claudio, Barnes’ attorney, asked for her client’s transfer to Saint Elizabeths Hospital for the evaluation. Claudio said Barnes has a complex mental illness and well documented intellectual disabilities.
In the first evaluation, DBH spoke with Barnes virtually and most of his answers were “I don’t know,” said Claudio. For more detailed observations, Claudio argued DBH needed to see him in person because they would not draw conclusions from evaluations at the jail. The DBH report did not list reasons why an in-patient report is not necessary, added Claudio.
The prosecutor had no objection to Claudio’s request.
Judge Kravitz said he was convinced Barnes should be at Saint Elizabeths for the evaluation because of the defendant’s significant depression and DBH’s suggestion that the full examination required more observations.
As a result, Judge Kravitz ordered a full mental competency evaluation for Barnes and his transfer to Saint Elizabeths.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene for a mental observation hearing on July 10.
