DAVIS, Calif. — The man accused of a series of stabbings in Davis in April 2023 had his competency reinstated, a judge ruled Friday.
A state hospital report in late December said Carlos Dominguez is now competent, reversing a decision made over the summer. In court Friday, the defense didn't make any challenges on his competency.
Dominguez was also ordered to be involuntarily medicated.
"Carlos Dominguez's sufficient knowledge and sufficient understanding of the legal procedure and charges and his mental health disorder of schizophrenia with catatonia does not impede a meaningful conversation regarding this subject. So, he has sufficient knowledge and understanding in the legal proceedings in the charges before him," a judge read from a state hospital report.
Now, a preliminary hearing for a trial is set for Feb. 26.
"Evidence will be heard in the afternoons at 1:30 p.m. each day that week until the preliminary hearing is concluded," a judge said Friday.
Neighbors in Davis are wondering what's next for Dominguez.
"I'm surprised to hear that the decision has been to [make] him stand trial because I had previously read that he was not fit to stand trial," said Davis resident, Kristin Ede.
"It's not fair to put him in somewhere he can get out again and I just thought it was fair," said resident Dianne Schaufenbuel.
MaryLouise Huang, who was friends with one of his alleged victims named David Breaux, was at Central Park Friday. Breaux, also known as Compassion Guy, was stabbed to death in the same park last April.
She's hopeful Dominguez will share what happened to the man beloved by his community during the trial.
Ede, a mother, says she's torn on how she feels.
"It's important for the families who lost their loved ones that they're able to try to seek justice, but at the same time, I think that when mental illness is left untreated, it's very difficult to stand trial for your actions when you weren't in your right mind," said Ede.
Residents also remember witnesses recalling some of the signs Dominguez displayed before his alleged attacks. They hope there are lessons learned for others to speak up when they notice anything strange in a friend or neighbor.
CASE HISTORY
Carlos Dominguez was a third-year student at UC Davis until April 25, when he was expelled for academic reasons. Days later, a series of deadly stabbings began, ultimately ending with Dominguez’s arrest.
The city of Davis will not soon forget the tension and fear felt for a full week, after 50-year-old David Breaux, known as “Compassion Guy,” was found stabbed to death in Davis’ Central Park the morning of April 27. Two days later, 20-year-old UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm was killed the same way in Davis’ Sycamore Park. On May 1, Kimberlee Guillory was stabbed at a homeless encampment near 2nd and L streets. She survived.
Then, on May 4, Davis police announced the arrest of 21-year-old Carlos Dominguez. He faces charges including murder and attempted murder.
Back in June, Dominguez’s attorneys with the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office argued he was not mentally competent to stand trial.
A separate trial was held over the summer to determine his mental competency, with the judge ultimately ordering Dominguez to take medication for his mental illness and sending him to a state hospital.
Now, according to a statement from the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office: “The court received a report from the state hospital certifying that Mr. Dominguez has been restored to competency.”
ABC10 previously asked Sacramento attorney Mark Reichel — who is not involved in this case — how common something like this is.
“It's not that uncommon that they're restored to competency within three months,” Reichel said. “Here's why: his mental incompetency could have been because of a mental health condition that was easily treatable, easily diagnoseable, and they got it down at the state mental hospital.”
Watch more on ABC10: Accused Davis stabber now competent to stand trial, returns to court in new year
