Criminal proceedings in the case against a 63-year-old man accused of the shooting death of a Catholic bishop in Hacienda Heights were suspended on Thursday, Oct. 17, after a judge ordered the defendant evaluated to determine whether he understands the charge against him and can help his attorneys in his defense.
Carlos Medina was not in the courtroom when his public defender, Pedro Cortes, expressed concern about his client’s mental competency based on thousands of records, multiple hospital visits while in custody, and an expert who said Medina was not competent to stand trial.
“The defense team has been diligently working to thoroughly investigate the events that transpired, including all contributing factors, such as Mr. Medina’s mental health, to ensure a comprehensive and fair representation of the facts,” his defense team said in a statement. “Based on the information we provided, the court declared a doubt as to his competency to stand trial.”
In order for criminal proceedings to go forward, Medina must be found competent.
A preliminary hearing had been scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, when a judge was to hear some of the evidence against the defendant to determine whether there is enough to warrant a trial.
Medina faces one count of murder with an allegation he personally used a firearm in the death of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, 69, found dead inside his home in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue on Feb. 18, 2023.
The judge ordered Medina to appear in Hollywood Superior Court on Oct. 31 to begin the mental evaluation.
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If found incompetent to stand trial, Medina could be placed in a secure mental-health facility until he is declared competent.
Medina has been in custody on more than $2 million bail since his Feb. 20, 2023, arrest.
Medina’s wife worked for O’Connell as a housekeeper and Medina had done handyman work at the home, officials have said.
Prosecutors accuse Medina of going into O’Connell’s home and shooting him multiple times. Medina was arrested two days later after a standoff at his West Carson home.
Sheriff Robert Luna has said there were no signs of forced entry into the bishop’s home and that O’Connell was found dead in a bedroom by a deacon who went to check on him because O’Connell was late for a meeting.
Tips from the public led investigators to Medina, including one tipster who said, “Medina was acting strange, irrational and made comments about the bishop owing him money.”
Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Modica has said that Medina made statements after his arrest about a possible motive, but investigators found them to be nonsensical.
Medina drove a dark-colored compact SUV, similar to one seen on surveillance video pulling into O’Connell’s driveway and leaving, Luna has said.
O’Connell was born in County Cork, Ireland, and had been a priest and later a bishop in Los Angeles for 45 years. At the time of his death, O’Connell was vicar for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ San Gabriel Pastoral Region, a position he had since 2015.