X

Ex-Massena Wellness Center director not competent to stand trial for murder, will be moved to psych facility for more evaluation

Posted 1/19/17

Updated 4:19 p.m. Jan. 19 to include comments from Barkley's defense attorney. A Tompkins County judge ruled on Thursday that the former Massena Wellness Center director accused of murder in Ithaca …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Ex-Massena Wellness Center director not competent to stand trial for murder, will be moved to psych facility for more evaluation

Posted

Updated 4:19 p.m. Jan. 19 to include comments from Barkley's defense attorney.

A Tompkins County judge ruled on Thursday that the former Massena Wellness Center director accused of murder in Ithaca is not competent to stand trial.

“There is a preliminary finding, based on the preliminary examination, that he is incapable of assisting in his own defense at this time,” Tompkins County District Attorney Matt Van Houten said Thursday afternoon.

Barkley will be sent to a state psychiatric facility for further evaluation. Van Houten believes the former wellness director is competent to stand trial, despite the judge’s ruling.

“It is our belief he is capable of assisting his own defense,” the Tompkins County DA said. “The examiners determined he was capable of understanding the actors in the court process. He’s unwilling to participate and accept the advice of his attorney, which is different from being incapable.”

Tompkins County Court Judge John Rowley in December ordered Barkley to undergo evaluation by two psychiatrists after the defendant claimed to have killed President-elect Donald Trump during his Dec. 19 arraignment. Those two reports were the basis of Rowley’s ruling on Thursday to send Barkley to a mental health facility.

Van Houten said the charges still stand, and it could be several months before the case comes back to court.

“There’s no exact timeframe. I would guess it will be 2 to 4 months,” he said. “I think it’s important to remember he is not free. He doesn’t have his liberty and he won’t have it for the foreseeable future. My expectation is he will be tried later this year and will have to deal with the consequences of the criminal justice system. There is no risk to the community of him being free.”

Barkley’s attorney, James Baker of Ithaca, was in court for other matters and was not immediately available for comment.

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 the 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.