Unsatisfied with mental evaluation results

 

The mother of a man charged with aggravated vehicular homicide fired her son’s court-appointed attorney Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, citing she was unsatisfied with the results of his mental competency evaluation.

Jonda Akers spoke on behalf of her son, Nathaniel Bloomfield, 27, of 12246 State Route 93, who is still suffering from brain injuries from a car accident in late June when he allegedly lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree, which killed the passenger of the car.

Warren Morford, attorney for Bloomfield, previously entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity for the man and Judge Charles Cooper ordered a mental evaluation.

The results of the man’s mental evaluation stated Bloomfield was incompetent to stand trial and not likely to be restored to competency.

Akers told Judge Charles Cooper she felt Morford had not stayed in contact with her throughout the case and that she did not agree with the evaluation. Cooper told the woman she could hire another attorney, but the court would not appoint another.

Akers also pleaded with the court to not place Bloomfield in a hospital.

“I will do anything,” Akers said. “Let me take care of him.”

Cooper set a pretrial for Nov. 28, giving Akers two weeks to hire counsel. Cooper also continued bond for Bloomfield, keeping the man on house arrest with GPS monitoring.

Bloomfield is accused of driving a 1995 Ford Mustang without an operator’s license and with a blood alcohol level of .14. The accident occurred near the 12-mile marker on State Route 93 in Elizabeth Township.

Bloomfield and his passenger, John R. Markel, 62, also of Pedro, were ejected from the car. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said at the time neither man was wearing a seat belt.

Markel was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lawrence County Coroner’s office. Bloomfield was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center.