SANTA PAULA : Hospital Says Suspect Able to Stand Trial

State hospital officials who are treating a man charged with murdering a Santa Paula ranch foreman have decided after two months that the defendant has regained his mental competency and should stand trial.

A hearing is scheduled next week to decide how to proceed in the case of Jose Luis Gonzalez, a 23-year-old transient who was sent to Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino County in August after two Ventura County doctors concluded he was severely mentally ill and could not understand the criminal court proceedings.

In a letter to the court dated Oct. 10, Patton’s medical director said Gonzalez “is now able to understand the nature of the charges” against him and should be tried as soon as possible, while he still is mentally competent to be prosecuted.

Gonzalez is charged with murder in the May 14 death of Rosario De la Cruz, 47, who was shot four times in the chest as he stood in his Santa Paula home. Attorneys said De la Cruz told his wife just before he died that it was Gonzalez, a longtime family friend, who had shot him.

Officials said they are unsure of the motive in the slaying.

Criminal proceedings were put on hold shortly after the slaying when Gonzalez’s attorney raised doubts about the defendant’s mental competency. Superior Court Judge Lawrence Storch concluded that Gonzalez was incompetent to stand trial based on the evaluations of two mental health professionals.

Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison said Gonzalez has been returned to the Ventura County Jail from Patton. Next week’s hearing is to determine whether Gonzalez’s attorney agrees with Patton’s assessment of the defendant’s mental competency.

If the defense disputes the finding, Gonzalez is entitled to a jury trial on the issue, Ellison said. If the defense agrees that Gonzalez’s mental competency has been restored, criminal proceedings against him will resume.