MASSENA -- Doctors have decided a former Massena Wellness Center director who is accused of murder in Ithaca is competent to stand trial, according to the Tompkins County district attorney.

Tompkins County Court Judge John Rowley in January ruled that Barkley is not capable of assisting in his own defense at trial. He ordered the defendant to undergo evaluation by two psychiatrists after he claimed during his Dec. 19 arraignment to have killed President Donald Trump. Those two reports were the basis of Rowley’s ruling on Jan. 19 to suspend court proceedings against Barkley and send him to a mental health facility for more evaluation and treatment.

Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten said doctors at Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center determined Barkley is able to stand trial.

“The findings were that he is competent to assist in his own defense,” Van Houten said.

Barkley’s attorney, James Baker of Ithaca, said his client has been released from the psychiatric facility and is back in county custody.

“The doctors at the facility Mr. Barkley was sent to did make a decision and he’s back in [the Tompkins County Jail],” Baker said.

Barkley is now due to appear in Tompkins County Court on March 17 at 3 p.m.

Both the prosecutor and defense council say they’re not entirely sure what will happen during the appearance.

“Any one of a number of things could happen. It’s his first time back in court after the hospitalization. It could be adjourned for further proceedings. The judge, prosecutor and I will discuss which way the case is going,” Baker said.

“There is the possibility Mr. Barkley or his attorney will ask for a fact-finding hearing to make a determination [on the Mid-Hudson doctors’ findings],” Van Houten said. “We don’t know what he or his attorney are going to do at this point. We’re going to move forward as if there is going to be a trial.”

If convicted as charged, Barkley is looking at 25 years to life in state prison.

The New York State Office of Mental Health said Barkley, a Madrid-Waddington High School graduate, had resigned his position at the Massena Wellness Center prior to Schumacher’s murder.

“Justin Barkley was not employed by the state of New York at the time of this incident. This former employee was a licensed master social worker from September 2008 until May 2016 at St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, where his final position was program director of the Massena Wellness Center,” according to Ben Rosen, OMH Public Information Office director. “In May 2016, he voluntarily left St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center for a position with the Office of Children and Family Services.”

He began working at The Office of Children and Family Services’ Finger Lakes Residential Center on May 4 and resigned effective Aug. 8, said Monica Mahaffey, New York State Office of Children & Family Services assistant commissioner for communications.