Woman Accused of Boy’s Torture Is Judged Competent : Courts: Jury takes only 15 minutes to reject her claim that she was insane when she used a miniature baseball bat to abuse her 10-year-old nephew last September.

Jurors deliberated about 15 minutes Thursday before rejecting an Orange woman’s claim that she is not mentally competent to stand trial on charges of sexually assaulting and torturing her 10-year-old nephew.

Cynthia Medina, 31, claims she was insane during the September attack in which police say she used a miniature souvenir baseball bat to sexually abuse the boy as punishment for touching an ashtray. Medina is also accused of administering other severe abuse, such as searing the boy’s tongue with a heated butter knife.

Defense attorney Richard C. Gilbert had argued that his client was not mentally competent to stand trial. One of the defense witnesses during the two-day trial testified that Medina suffered from multiple personalities.

Two court-appointed psychiatrists who examined Medina, however, testified she was able to fully understand the charges against her and assist in her own defense.

Supervising Deputy Dist. Atty. Chuck Middleton, who oversees child abuse cases, said he was pleased with the jury’s verdict and noted that deliberations lasted a little more than 15 minutes.

“She may not want to face the injuries she inflicted on the child . . . but she is competent to stand trial and answer for her crimes,” he said.

Gilbert could not be reached for comment.

Medina is also charged with abusing her own son. The case against her marks the first time in Orange County that the torture allegation has been used in a child abuse case. Both boys have been removed from her custody.

Her husband, Edward Medina, 45, also is charged with failing to protect the boys and faces trial later this year.

The nephew was so seriously injured in the assault that he was hospitalized and temporary fitted with a colostomy bag, authorities said.