Competency Battles Delay Justice for Years in Criminal Cases

Mental fitness evaluations can stretch out legal proceedings, leaving victims' families in limbo

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:03am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a pair of handcuffs against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the gritty, investigative nature of a criminal case delayed by mental competency issues.The lengthy legal battles over mental competency can leave victims' families in limbo for years, delaying justice and closure.Salt Lake City Today

Mental competency can become a major roadblock in criminal cases, delaying justice for years as courts determine whether a defendant can stand trial and understand the proceedings against them. The process of evaluating and restoring competency can involve hospital treatment, forced medication, and long-term commitment, all while victims' families wait in uncertainty for the case to move forward.

Why it matters

Determining a defendant's mental competency is essential to ensuring a fair trial, but the lengthy process can leave victims' families in legal limbo for years, prolonging their trauma and delaying closure. This issue highlights the challenges of balancing defendants' rights with victims' needs in the criminal justice system.

The details

In the case of Paris Gustin, who was murdered in 2016, the suspect Fortunato Villagrana has been in and out of competency evaluations since his 2022 arrest. Villagrana was initially ruled incompetent in 2023, but was later found competent earlier this year after multiple assessments. The victim's mother, Ashley Carter, says she has had to endure years of hearings and uncertainty as the case has dragged on.

  • Paris Gustin was murdered in Salt Lake City in 2016.
  • Fortunato Villagrana was arrested and charged with Gustin's murder in 2022.
  • Villagrana was ruled incompetent to stand trial in 2023.
  • Villagrana was later found competent to stand trial earlier in 2026.
  • Villagrana is scheduled to return to court for a scheduling conference on April 6, 2026.

The players

Paris Gustin

A 16-year-old who was shot and killed in Salt Lake City in 2016.

Fortunato Villagrana

The suspect arrested and charged with the murder of Paris Gustin in 2022.

Ashley Carter

The mother of Paris Gustin, who has had to wait nearly a decade for the case against her son's alleged killer to move forward.

Dr. Jeff Haun

The director of forensic evaluations at the Utah State Hospital, who explains the legal standards and process for determining mental competency.

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What they’re saying

“I have three state evaluators who have confirmed he is full of BS and that he is not suffering from schizophrenia or any of the other elements that he claims that he has.”

— Ashley Carter, Mother of Paris Gustin

“It is essential, and it's fundamental in our law that people are competent.”

— Dr. Jeff Haun, Director of Forensic Evaluations, Utah State Hospital

“There has to be a substantial reason for doing it, and that is a high bar. These medications come with a host of potential negative side effects, so it's a serious proceeding.”

— Dr. Jeff Haun, Director of Forensic Evaluations, Utah State Hospital

What’s next

Fortunato Villagrana is scheduled to return to court for a scheduling conference on April 6, 2026, now that he has been found competent to stand trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant challenges that the issue of mental competency can pose in the criminal justice system, leaving victims' families in prolonged legal limbo and delaying justice. It underscores the need for reforms to streamline the competency evaluation process while still protecting defendants' rights.