A man accused of stalking and attempted kidnapping was declared competent to stand trial on Wednesday.

State district court Judge Clayton Davis ruled Michael Aurelian Lognion, 44, mentally competent based on the recommendations of psychiatrists Drs. James Andrews and Garrett Ryder.

Ryder said Lognion has spent time in a mental hospital before and does have a psychotic disorder, probably bipolar, but is mentally able to stand trial.

“If not taking his meds, he would probably regress to a psychotic method of thinking and behavior,” Ryder said.

Lognion is accused of trying to get into a car stopped at an intersection in September. He is also accused of stalking a female employee at a local financial institution.

Lognion has a trial date of Sept. 30.

Other sanity hearings

Henry Gerald Rideaux, 27, was declared currently incompetent to stand trial.

Rideaux is accused of oral sexual battery with a juvenile, simple rape and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Prosecutor Jonathan Blake said Rideaux will undergo treatment for 90 days then be brought back for a status hearing on Nov. 20.

Blake said Anderson and Dr. Patrick Hayes recommended Rideaux to be found incompetent to stand trial, while Ryder recommended he be found competent.

Davis also ruled that a 75-year-old man accused of molesting a 6-year-old boy is competent to stand trial.

Clarence Emory Sanderson is accused of molesting the boy in 2012. He is charged with five counts of aggravated incest.

Ryder said he treated Sanderson as a private patient within the past two years. The doctor said he treated Sanderson for depression, but also believed the man was faking symptoms of mental illness.

Ryder said that although Sanderson was a private patient, Sanderson was also aware he had possible charges pending.

Sanderson is scheduled to stand trial Dec. 9.

(American Press Archives)

Michael Aurelian Lognion