Man who claimed insanity is found competent to stand trial

A 20-year-old man who is accused of sexually abusing a female minor in 2017 and had intended to rely upon the defense of insanity has been found competent to stand trial.

In an order yesterday, Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth L. Govendo said that, after carefully reviewing the testimonies and the reports submitted by both the prosecution and the defense, he finds Search Osilek Jr. to be competent to stand trial.

Govendo found that Osilek has sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding—and that he has a rational understanding of the proceedings against him.

The judge said that Osilek suffers from a mild intellectual disability but that his mental disorder has no appreciable impact on the nature of the quality of his relationship with his lawyers.

Govendo said Osilek does not suffer from any mental illness or defect that renders him unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him.

“[Osilek] does not suffer from any mental disease or defect which renders him unable to properly assist his attorney in his defense,” the judge said.

Police said Division of Youth Services social workers reported that Osilek allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl during the 2017 Christmas break.

Osilek reportedly admitted in a police interview to having had nonconsensual sex with the girl.

On Jan. 30, 2018, the Office of the Attorney General charged Osilek with sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree and sexual assault in the first degree.

In April 2018, Osilek, through counsel, filed a motion for mental examination, notifying the court that he intended to rely upon the defense of insanity at the time of the alleged crime.

Two weeks later, the court ordered that Osilek undergo a psychiatric examination to determine whether he had any mental illness, disease, or defect at the time of the offense.

The judge also ordered a psychiatric evaluation to determine hiss competency to stand trial and appointed Dr. Martin Blinder, the defendant’s retained psychiatrist, to perform the examinations.

The government also hired Dr. Dennis R. Donovan, a clinical psychologist, to evaluate Search.

From September to October 2019, Govendo he heard testimonies from Blinder and Donovan, the defendant’s high school teachers, former administrators, members of defendant’s dance group, previous employer, and his court-appointed counsel, David Banes.