MADISON, NE — A northeast Nebraska man found not competent to stand trial on a murder charge will be forced to take medication in an attempt to restore his competency.
Court documents say District Judge Mark Johnson approved the State’s motion to involuntarily medicate 50-year-old Rodolfo Castaneda-Morejon in an order issued Wednesday. Castaneda-Morejon faces first degree murder and felony weapon charges related to the stabbing death of Yosvanis Velazquez-Gomez at a Norfolk apartment in August, 2017.
He was found not competent to face trial in May of last year. Since then, he has been receiving treatment at the Lincoln Regional Center. Now, staff at the Regional Center will be able to administer anti-psychotic medications to Castaneda-Morejon in an effort to restore him to competency.
Court documents say Dr. Rafael Tatay testified in a hearing on January 22nd that Castaneda-Morejon suffers from schizophrenia, paranoid type. He said there is a substantial likelihood that medicating Castaneda-Morejon would restore his competency to stand trial.
Castandeda-Morejon told Dr. Tatay he does not want to take the drugs because he is “suspicious that the drugs will harm him.”
He faces the possibility of life in prison – and potentially the death penalty – if convicted.