smac97 Posted July 14, 2021 Posted July 14, 2021 In 2018 we discussed this story: Quote As the emblems of the sacrament were being passed during the Fallon 3rd Ward’s church meeting early Sunday afternoon 60 miles east of Reno, Nevada, John Kelly O’Connor sat on a couch in the west foyer just outside the chapel with a few other members of his LDS congregation. When the sacrament service was complete and as the meeting’s first speaker began to talk, O’Connor, 48, stood up, walked through the chapel’s west door, drew a handgun and at point-blank range shot and killed Bert Miller, 61, a man he had known for years, witnesses and police said. "I don’t know why you’d ever want to shoot Bert Miller. He’s the nicest guy in the world," said Rich Hutchings, a ward member. "It’s absolutely shocking." And update: Quote A Fallon man charged with the July 2018 murder of a fellow church member was ruled Tuesday incompetent to stand trial because of the inability to assist his attorney with his defense. John O’Connor, now 51, pleaded not guilty to four charges in 2019 to the murder of Charles E. “Bert” Miller at the Church of Latter-day Saints on West Richards Street on July 22, 2018. Both men attended the same church. In a sad way it's sort of heartening to think this tragedy may have been brought about through mental illness rather than through malicious intent. Quote Senior District Judge William A. Maddox presided over Tuesday’s proceedings in the Tenth Judicial District Court in Fallon, and Reno attorney Richard P. Davies represented O’Connor. Maddox is a senior judge who’s sitting in for Judge Thomas Stockard because of a possible conflict of interest. Huh. Per Judge Stockard's bio, he "grew up in Southern California and after completing two years of college, he left the comfort of home and lived for two years among the people of rural Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil." He also attended BYU as an undergrad and for law school. So there's a good chance he is a member of the Church, and that through this affiliation he knew either the perp, the victim, family members of the perp and/or victim, or some combination thereof. This could explain the "possible conflict of interest." Quote According to a state-appointed psychiatrist and two psychologists, their reports state O’Connor does not have the ability to understand the charges against him in assisting Davies with his defense. “These are the state’s doctors, and we talked to them at length,” said Lane Mills, Churchill County chief deputy district attorney. Mills said his office has discussed the case extensively with Dr. Steve Zuchowski, who first testified in court in February 2019 about O’Connor’s incompetency to stand trial. Psychologists Amy Patterson and Debbie Fletcher also reached the conclusion O’Connor wouldn’t be able to assist his counsel. Maddox then vacated the trial for O'Connor, which was expected to begin in March. Also at issue are several recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that focused on a defendant’s competency. O’Connor will return to Lakes Crossing in Sparks to undergo a risk assessment for the next 40 calendar days, and a hearing is set in district court Sept. 7 to review the information. Mills, though, said prior reports stated O’Connor did not meet the criteria for competency. “If he ever becomes competent, we can refile charges,” Mills said. The likely scenario, according to state law, is for O’Connor to remain in custody for 10 years and, after a review, he would more than likely serve five more years. Mills said a determination could be made to add five more years for a total of 20. A sad story all around. I am, nevertheless, grateful that we live in a society wherein such matters are handled under the rule of law. Thanks, -Smac 2
JAHS Posted July 14, 2021 Posted July 14, 2021 Regardless of his mental state for the safety of others I hope he remains in prison for the rest of his life. 2
Scott Lloyd Posted July 14, 2021 Posted July 14, 2021 6 minutes ago, smac97 said: John O’Connor, now 51, pleaded not guilty to four charges in 2019 to the murder of Charles E. “Bert” Miller at the Church of Latter-day Saints on West Richards Street on July 22, 2018. Both men attended the same church. After all these years, some media STILL can’t get the name of the Church right. I might be more tolerant of such carelessness had I not been a working journalist for some 40 years and learned firsthand that it’s not that difficult to correctly note down and report a proper name. 3
mfbukowski Posted July 14, 2021 Posted July 14, 2021 1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said: After all these years, some media STILL can’t get the name of the Church right. I might be more tolerant of such carelessness had I not been a working journalist for some 40 years and learned firsthand that it’s not that difficult to correctly note down and report a proper name. I was once a witness to an event and was quoted in a paper, and identified as Art Markbukowski. That was a good laugh. I like art, but not that much. 2
Kenngo1969 Posted July 15, 2021 Posted July 15, 2021 (edited) 14 hours ago, mfbukowski said: I was once a witness to an event and was quoted in a paper, and identified as Art Markbukowski. That was a good laugh. I like art, but not that much. Not to interject inappropriate levity into what, obviously is a terribly sad, terribly unfortunate situation, but, yeah, well ... there is a certain "art" to getting your name right. P.S.: Speaking of getting names right, I wonder if the Chief Deputy District Attorney of Churchill County NV, the county that is handling Mr. O'Connor's (again) terribly unfortunate case, Mr. Lane Mills, ever gets confused for this guy. Edited July 15, 2021 by Kenngo1969
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