Ex-supervisor candidate voices ire in court
A former Board of Supervisors candidate who allegedly assaulted his neighbor is upset about his mental competency being challenged as he languishes in jail.
“I’ve been incarcerated for 71 days,” said Richard French, 75, of Hydesville, “and I’m the victim of an assault, not the perpetrator.”
French spoke after his hearing was reset for 10:15 a.m. Aug. 4 because attorneys had not yet received a report from psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Wilson regarding French’s competency to stand trial. French appeared to have seen the report himself because he said he took great issue with it as well as with his representation by the Public Defender’s Office.
French said he wanted to be released so he could prepare for his trial instead of sitting in jail, but Judge Timothy Canning said his attorney could make a motion to do that.
“At this point the court is not going to authorize your release until the very least your competency is restored,” Canning said.
Wilson had only met with him once, French said, but had called him a psychopath and recommended he be incarcerated at a mental institution.
“Dr. Wilson’s report is fraught with many unsupported allegations against me,” French said. “I consider it slanderous what she’s written, and now for you to put me over for another 30 days incarcerated. I point out I am the victim.”
Deputy Public Defender Wade Orbelian said he understood French disagreed with the findings but it wasn’t yet the time to dispute the facts in his case.
“The court is just following the law,” Orbelian said.
French was arrested April 30 after a dispute over a property line led to a fight between French and his neighbor.