Man in rock-throwing case is committed to state mental hospital
The man who allegedly threw large rocks through windows of at least a dozen area businesses last year, including the Yuma Sun, has been sentenced to serve no less than 15 months at the Arizona State Mental Hospital.
According to court records, during a hearing in Yuma County Superior Court on June 17, Superior Court Judge Brandon Kinsey ruled that Jesse Carrillo was unable to assist his attorney in his own defense and was therefore deemed to be criminally incompetent.
Carrillo, who had been undergoing treatment in the Yuma County jail’s restoration to competency program since January, was eligible for the determination because two psychologists, Dr, Ashley B Hart of Yuma, and Dr. Philip Vitelli in Tempe, determined that he was incompetent to stand trial.
“The court finds there is no clear and convincing evidence that the defendant will not be restored to competency within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed 15 months,” Judge Kinsey expressed in his written ruling. “The court finds that confinement is necessary for treatment.”
Judge Kinsey further noted in his written ruling that the court could extend the length of Carrillo’s sentence longer than the initial 15 months sentence if he has not been restored to competency within that time. While he is at the state hospital, Carrillo will be evaluated and treated for his mental illness.
The state hospital must also submit a written report to the court on or before 120 days from the start of Carrillo’s sentence indicating his progress and prognosis, and if there is a possibility that he could be restored within 21 months. The report should also contain information as to what limitations are imposed by medications used to restore competency.
Carrillo has been charged with three counts of burglary, two counts of theft, and one count each of theft of means of transportation and criminal damage, all of which are felonies. He has also been charged with two misdemeanor counts of criminal damage and was being held at the Yuma County jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
According to Yuma police, on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, in the early morning hours, officers responded to multiple reports of criminal damage done to businesses.
These reports, approximately a dozen, all involved a large rock thrown through a window or windows of the business. This occurred in the central part of city, from about the 1500 block of 5th Avenue to the 2800 block of 4th Avenue.
Carrillo was arrested in September after a Yuma Police Department investigation into the incidents.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.