HOUSTON – A judge ruled Wednesday that Shannon Miles is competent to stand trial in connection with the killing of Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Darren Goforth.
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Miles’ attorney, Anthony Osso, asked the judge for a 60-day delay to evaluate Miles' sanity. Osso claims Miles has other mental health issues such as schizophrenia.
"Any time you have a competency issue, you have someone who suffers from mental illnesses that our client suffers from, you have to cover all bases. So the logical next step would be to examine the issue of sanity," Osso said.
Osso entered a not guilty plea for Miles.
His next court date is scheduled for April 18, the due date to resolve the sanity evaluation.
Miles was originally found incompetent to stand trial in Goforth’s 2015 slaying, but doctors said last year that Miles underwent treatment and is now competent. He was transferred back to the Harris County Jail from a state mental hospital.
A judge ordered Miles to undergo another mental evaluation before he would rule on Miles’ competency.
Miles’ attorney, Anthony Osso, said last year that his client was aware that he has been charged, but he did not fully understand the severity of the offense.
Prosecutors have said that Miles shot Goforth because he was a law enforcement officer.