WASHBURN COUNTY --The Court has found Jason Arnold competent to stand trial on the charges filed against him from a high-speed pursuit that occurred in Washburn County on July 22, 2020.
Arnold faces criminal charges of Class F Felony First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, Class H Felony Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer, Class I Felony Reckless Driving Causing Great Bodily Harm, and Class I Felony Attempting to Flee or Elude an Officer stemming from that high-speed pursuit during which he fled from law enforcement in Sawyer County and Washburn County.
DrydenWire previously reported that the Court had ordered a competency evaluation for Arnold. Following that evaluation, the Court found Arnold not competent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo a term of inpatient treatment in a mental health facility.
Online circuit court records show that Arnold has now been found competent to stand trial following a recent competency hearing at which the Hon. J. Michael Bitney heard testimony from two doctors as well as hearing arguments from Arnold himself, Arnold’s defense attorney, and Washburn County District Attorney Marcoux. The Court continued Arnold’s $50,000 cash bail bond.
Arnold appeared most recently on June 18, 2021, for another hearing on his case. Online circuit court records show that during that hearing Arnold requested a new judge to preside over his case and a new judge will be assigned.
A request had been previously filed by Arnold’s defense attorney to withdraw from the case, however, Judge Bitney declined to take up that request at the June 18, 2021 hearing according to online circuit court records. Records also indicate that Arnold remains in custody on his cash bond.
DrydenWire will continue to post updates to this story after a new judge is assigned and holds a hearing on the case.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Jun 24, 2021 5:06 pm CDT
