Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin found 19-year-old Brandon Adams mentally incompetent to stand trial on Oct. 15 in connection to the fatal stabbing of 14-year-old Cortez Lemon on July 10, 2024.
Adams is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in Lemon’s death during an altercation on a Maryland Transit bus on the 4200 block of Frankford Avenue.
During the hearing, Adams told the court that his family had paid for a new attorney. However, court records show that he remains represented by Judit K.Otvos. Defense attorney Sharron Bogins stood in for Otvos during the proceedings.
An evaluator’s behavioral report concluddd that Adams is incompetent to stand trial and noted a risk of harm to himself. Bogins said there was no evidence to dispute the evaluator’s findings, but that she would bring any further information to the court as it becomes available.
To stand trial a defendant must be mentally competent enough to understand why he is being charged and be able to help his attorney.
Judge Rasin sets Adams six-month competency review hearing for April 15.
