ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - A Florida man accused of throwing his young daughter to her death off a Tampa Bay area bridge has been found competent to stand trial.
Pinellas County Judge Joseph Bulone issued the ruling Friday.
In January, state mental health doctors determined 27-year-old Jon Jonchuck was ready to stand trial. He was deemed incompetent in February 2015, the month after prosecutors say he dropped 5-year-old Phoebe Jonchuck into Tampa Bay.
Prosecutors say they’re hoping for a fall trial.
The Tampa Bay Times (https://bit.ly/2mO4SsQ ) reports Jonchuck will remain at the state hospital in Gainesville until the case is closer to trial.
Pinellas-Pasco Chief Assistant State Attorney Brian Bartlett says they’re concerned Jonchuck will become incompetent again if he’s not forced to take his medication.
The state is seeking the death penalty.
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Information from: Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Fla.), https://www.tampabay.com.
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