Accused killer not competent to stand trial
NORRISTOWN » An Upper Dublin man accused of the fatal stabbing of his mother’s boyfriend is severely mentally disabled, in need of further mental health treatment and not competent to proceed to trial at this time, a judge has ruled.
Jules Demetris Ross Jr., 28, of the 100 block of Girard Avenue, will be committed for involuntary treatment services, under the Pennsylvania Mental Health Procedures Act, to the Norristown State Hospital forensic unit for a period not to exceed 180 days, Montgomery County Judge William R. Carpenter ruled.
The judge issued the order af
ter defense lawyer Gregory Nester and Assistant District Attorney Cara McMenamin said Ross was evaluated by a psychiatrist and a psychologist for both the defense and prosecution and each determined Ross was incompetent at this time to face court proceedings.
“From a legal perspective, that will put his case on hold, it’s a stay of prosecution for the next 180 days,” Nester explained after the hearing. “It’s also a commitment to the Norristown State Hospital for competency restoration treatment.”
During the 180-day treatment period, Ross will be re-evaluated to determine if he has regained competence or is in need of additional mental health treatment. The re-evaluation will address Ross’ progress toward regaining competency.
The judge will hold a competency review hearing, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 17, 2021.
“Then we’ll see where we go from there. If he’s incompetent, still, we can extend the treatment. If he’s restored to competency, then the case will come back to an active case and be litigated,”
Nester said. “And if at any time during that 180 days, his situation changes where he’s restored to competency then we can always advance that on the court’s calendar as necessary.”
Ross is still awaiting a preliminary hearing before District Court Judge Patricia Zaffarano on charges of first- and third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the alleged Feb. 2, 2019, fatal stabbing of Johnny Johnson, 49, inside the residence they shared in the North Hills section of Upper Dublin.
The investigation began about 5:06 a.m. when Upper Dublin police were dispatched to the Girard Avenue residence for a reported stabbing.
Arriving officers found Chiquita Brown trying to help Johnson, her boyfriend, who had a stab wound to the neck, according to the criminal complaint. Brown told the police her son, Ross, had stabbed Johnson, detectives alleged.
Johnson was transported to Jefferson Health’s Abington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy determined Johnson died as a result of multiple cuts and stab wounds, according to the arrest affidavit.
Court documents revealed Brown’s version of
what occurred and an alleged differing account of events by Ross.
Brown allegedly told police she and Johnson were having a verbal argument in their bedroom during the early hours of Feb. 2 when Ross knocked on the door and told Johnson to “cut the noise,” according to the criminal complaint. Brown told her son “they were fine and just arguing,” but after several minutes, as she was leaving the bedroom, Ross charged past her and accused Johnson of “hitting my mom,” according to the arrest affidavit.
According to Brown’s account to investigators, Johnson was heard asking for help and then she observed him bleeding from the neck and Ross holding a knife.
Detectives found blood inside the bedroom and a bloodstained knife inside a kitchen drawer, according to court papers.
In an interview by Upper Dublin and county detectives, Ross, who admitted stabbing Johnson, said he kicked the bedroom door open and saw Johnson standing over his mother, who was seated on the bed. Ross claimed after Johnson, who was unarmed, started “swinging on me,” he stabbed him and then put the knife inside a kitchen drawer, according to court documents.