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By
Sage Cho
- December 5, 2024
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In mental health court on Dec. 4, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin ordered an initial mental competency evaluation for a defendant charged with first-degree murder.
Defendant Robert Douglass was charged on March 2, 2021 with first-degree murder, carjacking, second-degree assault, car theft, unauthorized removal of property, reckless endangerment and two counts of failure to stop at the scene of a crime.
Defense attorney Koryn High’s request for the initial evaluation comes two years after her original request, which was postponed in February 2022 when Douglass suffered a stroke that rendered him unable to communicate effectively. Douglass was 53 years old at the time. High had informed the court that Douglass’ stroke left him with a traumatic brain injury. Douglass later suffered a second stroke, High said.
Rasin ordered the initial evaluation for after the holidays at an unspecified date. ‘
Defendants Gold Leroy Bass, Jr., 74, and Tyrone Blackwell, 29, will return to mental health court on Jan. 8, 2025. Bass was convicted of a double homicide in 1973, while Blackwell was arrested July 19 in connection to the fatal stabbing of 33-year-old Devin Butler on the 2400 block of West Lafayette Avenue.
First-degree murder defendant Treymon Hughes-Boulware, 29, was deemed incompetent to stand trial. Hughes-Boulware was arrested on Dec. 8 in connection to the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Anton Kancir. Rasin ordered a status check in 6 months.
Rasin approved a 2-week postponement for 34-year-old Kenard Kuniken with the intent of reassigning his case. Kuniken was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure after he fatally stabbed his 51-year-old mother, Tracy Phelps, in February 2020.
Defendant Javon Hines, 24, will return on Feb. 5, 2025. Hines was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Elise Wars and her 4-year-old daughter, Khori Ashton in November 2022.
In order to stand trial, a defendant must be declared mentally competent to comprehend the charges against him and actively participate in his own defense.