Facing charges of felonious assault

A Proctorville man undergoing mental treatment so he can stand trial for felonious assault and other charges will be court-ordered to take psychiatric medications to help restore his competency.

During a hearing Wednesday in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, Ryan Fuller, 20, of 14460 State Route 7, appeared with his attorney, Jason Smith, to oppose a motion filed by the state to request the defendant be required to take those medications.

Fuller previously pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of second-degree felonious assault, third-degree failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and third-degree escape. An initial mental competency evaluation resulted in Fuller’s commitment to Summit Behavioral Health Care, where he is currently receiving treatment to restore his mental competency so he can aid in his defense and stand trial.

The motion was filed following Fuller’s psychiatrist, Dr. Elizabeth Rose, sending a letter to the court requesting her patient be required to take mood stabilizing and anti-psychotic drugs, because without them, it is unlikely he would be restored to competency.

During the hearing, Fuller sat quietly with his attorney, thumbing through the pages of a small, pocket-sized book. At one point, Fuller got up from his seat, stood quietly for a few moments, and then sat back down.

Rose testified that Fuller presents with schizophrenia and is difficult to engage with and that he will not talk for more than a few minutes. She said he is paranoid and thinks she is trying to poison him. Rose said the man stopped eating except for pre-packaged food and has had significant weight loss.

Rose also said because of Fuller’s mental status at this time, she does not believe he has the ability to give or withhold consent for the medications.

Judge Charles Cooper granted the motion for medications to be administered.

In other cases:

• Lawrence Jenkins, 54, of 1119 S. Third St., Ironton, was sentenced to six months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree charge of possession of drugs.

• Mark Noel, 42, of 870 County Road 128, Ironton, who is charged with a second-degree count of complicity to aggravated trafficking in drugs, was given a final offer plea agreement. Noel was offered an amended charge of fourth-degree complicity to trafficking in drugs with an eight-month prison sentence.

Noel declined the offer and a trial was set for May 26. If convicted, he faces eight years in prison.

• Matthew Collins, 20, of Decatur, was arraigned on a third-degree count of trafficking in drugs, to which he pleaded not guilty. Cooper set bond at $25,000 own-recognizance and a pretrial was set for April 27.