Tudela request for psychiatric examination OK’d

The Superior Court has approved Jordan Tudela’s motion to undergo psychiatric examination. Tudela is relying upon the defense of insanity at the time he allegedly sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl.

Last Dec. 6, Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio ordered that a psychiatric examination be performed on Tudela by Dr. Martin Blinder, stemming from Tudela’s notice that he intends to rely upon the defense of insanity.

Tudela is represented by Office of the Public Defender’s Jean Pierre Nogues,

Blinder will serve as an expert witness during Tudela’s hearings. He is tasked to evaluate the defendant and prepare a report.

According to Tudela’s motion that was filed through his counsel, a psychiatrist is needed to determine whether Tudela was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the offense.

“Whenever a plea of not guilty by reason of mental illness, disease, or defect is entered or notice is given pursuant to the Commonwealth Rule of Criminal Procedure, the court shall appoint at least one qualified psychiatrist or other mental health professional to examine the defendant and report upon his mental condition,” states Tudela’s motion.

Blinder was given until Jan. 25, 2019, to file a report. Tudela’s review hearing concerning his competence is scheduled for Feb. 5, 2019.

Since Tudela has been found indigent, the government will pay for the psychiatrist. The court estimates that $1,500 will be paid to Blinder for his services.

The Office of the Attorney General charged 36-year-old Tudela with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and disturbing the peace. He was allegedly caught sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in Chalan Kanoa and had attempted to jump off a three-story building.

A bail of $100,000 was imposed on Tudela who remains in the custody of the Department of Corrections because he could not post bail.

According to court information, Tudela’s girlfriend and the alleged eyewitness of the assault told police that she caught Tudela sexually molesting the 11-year-old girl in their residence in Chalan Kanoa last Saturday afternoon.

The eyewitness told police that she panicked and ran out of the room and immediately called for police assistance. Tudela reportedly left the house prior to the arrival of police officers.

The 11-year-old victim later allegedly told police that Tudela had threatened to kill her family if she reports what he did to her.

Tudela allegedly begged his girlfriend not to report the matter to authorities, and that she reported the incident nonetheless, prompting him to climb atop a three-story building in Chalan Kanoa and threaten to jump off.

For over three hours, responding police officers and first responders urged him to get off the edge of the building; the incident caused massive traffic in the area. He was later arrested at the building site.

Tudela was taken to the Commonwealth Health Center where was admitted and later released on Dec. 3.