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A man accused of murdering a teenager in a Peoria convenience store has been found incompetent to stand trial, according to documents.
Last year, a grand jury indicted Michael Paul Adams, 28, on a first-degree murder charge in the July 4 killing of 17-year-old Elijah Al-Amin.
The defendant stated he felt threatened by the rap music Al-Amin was listening to.
The court recently found that Adams is unable to understand the nature of the court proceedings and/or is unable to help his counsel in the case and is therefore criminally incompetent, per Arizona state law.
The court ruled there is no clear and convincing evidence that Adams will not be restored to competency within 15 months, is incompetent to refuse treatment and should be subject to involuntary treatment per state law.
The defendant will be committed to the Maricopa County Correctional Health Services Restoration Competency Program to receive treatment necessary to restore his competency, according to court documents.
The state has been ordered to provide the necessary treatment and education to restore the defendant’s competency as quickly as possible and appoint a mental health expert to supervise the restoration treatment.
The appointed mental health expert will be expected to submit a written progress report by Feb. 27, or the date the mental health expert concludes either that competency has been restored or that there is no substantial probability the defendant will be restored by Oct. 7, 2021.
State law states a defendant has three years to restore competency. If restored, the trial will proceed.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.
Philip Haldiman is a third generation Arizona native with brief residencies on the east and west coasts.
He has bachelor’s degrees in Theater and Journalism at Arizona State University, and is an award winning journalist with more than 15 years worth of experience in reporting and editing.
Most recently, he took first place for investigative reporting and third place for best sustained coverage or series at the 2023 Arizona Newspapers Association awards.
In his free time, he produces an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
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