Capital-murder suspect Darrell Dennis wants to represent himself at trial, and a Pulaski County circuit judge said Thursday he’ll consider allowing it once the 48-year-old undergoes a mental evaluation.
But Judge Chris Piazza warned Dennis against firing his appointed attorney, Bill James, and acting as his own attorney in a case in which prosecutors are seeking a life sentence. Piazza, who’s been on the bench since 1991, said he’s never seen that work out for a defendant.
“Every time I let someone represent himself, I get reversed” on appeal, the judge said. “It’s a very serious charge. I don’t think you’re capable of handling it yourself.”
Prosecutors requested the mental evaluation, which will be conducted under the auspices of the State Hospital, out of an “abundance of caution” about whether Dennis is competent to stand trial, chief deputy prosecutor John Johnson told the judge.
James told the judge he didn’t think an examination was necessary but that he understood that under the law, Arkansas Code 5-2-305, the prosecutor could require an evaluation.
“I don’t have any doubts about his competency,” James told the judge. “I’ve had many many conversations with him and he’s certainly aware of what’s going on.”
Dennis said he didn’t want to be subjected to the at least three-month delay that the evaluation will require, telling the judge that an evidentiary hearing will clear him.
“I’m getting tried for a crime I didn’t commit,” he told the judge. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”
Dennis told the judge he’s undergone several mental evaluations and state doctors have always cleared him to stand trial. He had been scheduled to stand trial at the end of the month, but the law requires proceedings to be delayed until his mental state is ascertained by doctors.
In his most recent evaluation, conducted in February 2011 and for which the drug charges Dennis is currently serving a 60-year sentence, the psychologist did not find any mental illness but described Dennis as uncooperative, which made it difficult to accurately assess his facilities.
Dennis accused senior deputy prosecutor Marianne Satterfield of “sandbagging” him and deliberately dragging out the prosecution. And he accused James in court filings of entering a “secret alliance” with prosecutors to get him convicted.
“I want him off my case,” Dennis told the judge. “I don’t need an enemy. I need an attorney who will represent me.”
Dennis is the convicted felon whose arrest in the May slaying of Forrest Abrams, 18, of Fayetteville, while Dennis was on parole, prompted legislative review of the state’s parole system.
Also charged with kidnapping, aggravated robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Dennis is accused of participating in the abduction and robbery of Abrams and Tyler Hodges, 23, of Little Rock.
Abrams was found shot to death at West 11th and South Woodrow streets in May. Police have said they believe two other men, so far unidentified, were also involved in the killing.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 04/11/2014