Jailed teen to be tested for competency

PORTALES — A district judge on Thursday ordered a psychiatric evaluation for a Lubbock teen charged with vehicular homicide.

James Baiamonte of Albuquerque told Judge Donna Mowrer that Jerry Nale, 18, had been treated for mental health issues throughout his childhood and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder when he was 15 years old.

Nale was arrested in May 2016 on charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles, all of which are felonies.

Nale fled from Portales police officers after being discovered in a vehicle in an alleyway with 16-year-old Trinity Jackson and her 14-year-old brother, Ashton, who had both been reported missing.

Shortly after fleeing from police, Nale lost control of the vehicle and rolled it. Trinity Jackson was transported to a Lubbock hospital where she later died.

Nale was released from jail on bond, but arrested again in August for failure to appear in court after leaving the state to go to Montana. He remains in custody at the Roosevelt County Detention Center.

Baiamonte told Mowrer on Thursday that he believes there is a competency issue with his client, saying that Nale does not seem to understand much of what he tells him.

“It’s almost as if I am speaking to a child,” Baiamonte told the judge, requesting that a psychiatric evaluation be done.

Assistant District Attorney Jake Boazman told Mowrer that the state had not observed communication problems with Nale, but they recognized that there are mental health issues.

Mowrer instructed Baiamonte to put in the order for the evaluation and tell officials to have the report to him within 45 days.

Baiamonte said after the hearing that if found incompetent to stand trial, there is a strong chance Nale will be placed in a mental health facility.

Also in court on Thursday:

Public defender Chris Christensen asked for a four-day setting in the trial of Eduardo Lopez, 23, of Portales.

Lopez is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and aggravated fleeing of a law enforcement officer then later charged with homicide by vehicle.

Lopez fled from sheriff’s deputies after being discovered with Iresema Hernandez, 33, who was in violation of her house arrest, clipping Sheriff Malin Parker with his vehicle as he fled. When deputies attempted to stop Lopez’ vehicle with road spikes, Lopez swerved to avoid them, driving the vehicle into a tree.

Hernandez was airlifted to a Lubbock hospital where she later died.

Boazman said Thursday that a new trial date will be set for Lopez when an open four-day trial period is found.