Reeves to get mental health exam
Published 7:38 am Wednesday, July 16, 2014
The only person from Calcasieu Parish on death row will be examined by a panel of mental health experts to determine whether he fits the mental standards to be put to death.
Ragley man Jason Manuel Reeves, 39, is on death row because in November 2001, he raped and killed a 4-year-old Moss Bluff girl, Mary Jean Thigpen. Her body was found at LeBleu Cemetery off La. 397 two days after Reeves abducted her.
Reeves’ attorneys argue he does not fit the mental competency standards to be put to death. A score of 70 or below is often used as the threshold of intellectual disability. However, a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling said states cannot execute someone simply because their IQ is above 70. The court said tests’ margin of error must be considered, as well as other factors.
Judge Mike Canaday said in court Tuesday that Reeves scored an 85 on an IQ test on May 9, 2002, six months after the crime. More recently, Reeves scored a 75. Claims of Reeves’ mental deficiency have only been brought up since he was convicted.
Canaday appointed psychologist Lawrence Dilks, as well as psychiatrist Dr. Patrick Hayes.
Canaday also wanted to appoint psychiatrist Dr. James Anderson, but prosecutor Carla Sigler told the judge that Anderson had previously been consulted by the District Attorney’s Office, although the psychiatrist had neither seen Reeves nor made a diagnosis.
Kathy Kelly, an attorney with the Capital Post-Conviction Project of Louisiana, objected to Anderson’s appointment, and Canaday agreed not to put him on the panel. Canaday may add another doctor, he said.
After the panel examines Reeves, the doctors are to submit their reports to the court by Sept. 29, and another hearing is to be held Oct. 8.
Reeves has waived his right to keep his records under seal, allowing them to be examined by the doctor. Canaday had two large binders of records on the bench.
Kelly said, though, that she does not believe that all the records are applicable to Reeves’ mental health. Among those are his disciplinary correctional records.
“Those records do not weigh in,” she said.
To not make all records available to the mental health experts would be the equivalent of “steering” the results, Canaday said.
He said he will not turn the records over to the panel until Aug. 8, giving Kelly time to appeal his ruling to the state Supreme Court. The judge set a deadline of July 25 to file appeals.
Canaday said Reeves, who has been kept in Angola State Penitentiary, is to be kept in the Calcasieu Correctional Center while the proceedings are ongoing.
Kelly objected, but Canaday said he didn’t want the doctors to have to drive back and forth and that he wants Reeves present at all court hearings.
“He’s looking at the death penalty; he needs to be present at every hearing,” Canaday said.
Kelly said she will appeal that ruling as well.
She had also asked that a defense attorney be present during Reeves’ evaluation, or that the sessions be videotaped. Canaday denied both requests.
Reeves was scheduled to be put to death Aug. 15, 2012, but a stay was granted.
