Ex-UCLA lecturer accused of threats dominated mentally unfit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former lecturer on the College of California, Los Angeles accused of threatening college students and employees was discovered mentally unfit to face trial final week by a federal decide in Denver.

U.S. District Court docket Decide Raymond P. Moore wrote in a Jan. 27 courtroom submitting that legal professionals for Matthew Harris filed a movement final October “for willpower of defendant’s competency to face trial,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

An examination by a forensic psychiatrist discovered Harris is “presently affected by a psychological illness or defect rendering him incompetent to proceed” along with his protection, the decide wrote.

Harris had pleaded not responsible final February to allegations that he despatched emails and posted movies threatening violence towards UCLA. He’s accused of sending emails with an 800-page doc and hyperlinks to movies to folks on the college.

UCLA canceled classroom instruction on Feb. 1, 2022 as a precaution and Harris was arrested in Boulder, Colorado, the place he had been dwelling.

Harris’ mom informed authorities he was identified with schizophrenia and he or she had him involuntarily dedicated to a psychiatric establishment after he allegedly threatened her, in keeping with courtroom paperwork.

Harris had lectured in UCLA’s philosophy division till being placed on “investigatory go away” in March 2021 after allegedly sending pornographic and violent content material to his college students.

Harris beforehand studied at Duke and Cornell universities. A path of crimson flags about his conduct towards girls adopted him all through his tutorial journey to UCLA. In on-line class opinions, interviews and emails obtained final 12 months by The Related Press, present and former college students in any respect three universities alleged negligence by the faculties for letting Harris slide, regardless of his regarding conduct.

Harris can be hospitalized and handled for psychological sickness to permit specialists to find out whether or not his psychological situation may enhance sufficient for him to face trial sooner or later, the Occasions reported.

The decide ordered a written report on Harris’ psychological situation by Could 27.