LAKEPORT — The Lakeport man accused of shooting at utility workers last summer was ordered transferred from the county jail to Napa State Hospital Tuesday.
Dennis Leroy Cato was found mentally unfit for trial May 7, putting on hold prosecutors” case charging him with seven felonies, including two counts of attempted murder.
“(Cato) will be at Napa until he regains his competency, and there will be periodic reviews by the court to monitor his status while at Napa,” deputy district attorney Susan Krones said.
Authorities allege Cato, 64, shot at a pair of PG&E subcontractors as they finished up work at his Hill Road East home Aug. 29. The Lakeport man pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges.
Cato was set to stand trial in mid-April, but his public defender, Komnith Moth, declared doubt about Cato”s mental competence five days before jury selection was set to start.
Two psychiatrists then evaluated Cato and deemed him incompetent, leading to Lake County Superior Court Judge Andrew S. Blum finding Cato unfit for further criminal proceedings.
The question of where to place Cato for mental-health treatment was given to retired Lake County Judge Arthur H. Mann Tuesday at the Lake County Courthouse. The assigned judge ordered Cato to be transported to Napa State Hospital, Krones said.
The criminal case against Cato is suspended until his competence is restored. The attorneys are due to return to court June 25 to make sure he was taken to Napa.
Jeremy Walsh is a staff reporter for Lake County Publishing. Reach him at 263-5636, ext. 37 or jwalsh@record-bee.com. Follow his court coverage on Twitter, @JeremyDWalsh or #Lakecourt.
