Murder suspect to get mental-health therapy
TEXARKANA — A finding of incompetence presents unique challenges in the case of an Arkansas prison inmate accused of beating a Miller County correctional officer to death in the jail’s kitchen in December 2016.
Tramell Mackenzie Hunter, 28, is charged with capital murder in the Dec. 18, 2016, death of correctional officer Lisa Mauldin. Hunter also is charged with battery of a peace officer regarding serious injury to correctional officer Damaris Allen.
Two psychologists with the State Hospital have deemed Hunter unfit to stand trial because of mental illness. A hearing to address Hunter’s need for treatment that may restore him to competency was held Thursday before Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson.
Hunter’s lawyer, Ron Davis of Little Rock, was unable to attend the hearing, Johnson said in court Thursday.
Johnson described Hunter’s case as an “unusual situation” because of his status as a Miller County capital-murder defendant and as an inmate with the Arkansas Department of Correction serving time for 2011 Pulaski County convictions for aggravated robbery and domestic battery.
At the time of the attacks on Mauldin and Allen, Hunter was assigned to the Miller County jail as part of the Correction Department’s 309 program, which allows certain offenders to serve their sentences in county jails to work as cheap labor. He was serving a 15-year term at the time of the attacks on Mauldin and Allen.
When a defendant accused of a serious crime is deemed unfit to proceed, he is typically sent to the State Hospital in hopes that competency can be restored and the case against him can move toward a disposition.
Billy Burris, State Hospital program coordinator for forensic services, answered questions about Hunter’s situation from Johnson and Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black during Thursday’s hearing.
Burris said he has been in contact with the mental-health program coordinator at the Department of Correction and has arranged for State Hospital staff members to visit Hunter monthly to assess his need for medication and other treatment. Burris said that because the hospital is “not a jail or prison so to speak,” housing Hunter at the hospital could create a danger to employees.
Burris said that if hurdles to treatment are identified as the State Hospital attempts to treat Hunter in prison, the court will be informed so any problems can be addressed.
“If you run into, say, resistance from authorities not in the medical field at ADC would you immediately notify the court so we can address the proper way to administer the proper restorative services?” Johnson asked. “In other words, we don’t want it to just drag on.”
Black said her office will prepare an order reflecting that Hunter will receive services from the Department of Human Services while incarcerated at a state prison. Johnson scheduled the case for a review hearing Oct. 23.