Fairfield man who killed father sent to state hospital

Victor A. Estrada, 31, will be confined for maximum terms of two years, or until his mental competency is restored

A Solano County Superior Court judge ordered a 31-year-old Fairfield man to spend two years, the maximum term, in a state hospital for the fatal stabbing of his father in 2018 in Suisun City.

Judge William J. Pendergast made the ruling on Aug. 8, when Victor Alfonso Estrada appeared in Department 11 in the Justice Center in Fairfield.

The defendant’s case was heard again on Nov. 20, with Pendergast hearing a placement report and an order to show cause. Estrada was represented by Deputy Public Defender Nick Filloy.

Court records indicate that Pendergast had doubts about Estrada’s ability to understand trial proceedings as the case made its way through the court system. Typically, when a defendant is confined at one of five state hospitals the purpose is to restore mental competency.

Court records were unclear about the matter, although during previous proceedings the Solano County District Attorney’s

Office was granted a protective order for medical records.

Under the law, the 1368 section of the Penal Code, a defendant who is incompetent cannot be tried or convicted while the incompetency lasts. Some defendants are considered permanently incompetent, while others are considered incompetent for a period of time. They can be tried as soon as they are declared competent.

Once declared competent after treatment and counseling, Estrada may be scheduled for a jury trial.

Suisun City police believe Estrada killed his father, Alfonso Rodarte, 48, on the morning of March 24, 2018, shortly before police received a 911 call reporting a stabbing outside a residence in the 500 block of Line Street.

Additional information indicates Estrada was believed to be estranged from his father at the time of the stabbing.

He was arraigned on the charges three days after the murder.