'Everything is going according to our plan': Man who murdered deputy is pretending to be mentally incompetent, prosecutors say

A antheral accused of sidesplitting a California sheriff's lawman is allegedly pretending to beryllium mentally incompetent successful bid to debar the astir terrible punishment.

Jesse Ceazar Navarro, 45, is charged with the murder of 30-year-old Darnell Calhoun, arsenic good arsenic discharging a firearm from a conveyance with the intent to kill. Because peculiar circumstances were added to the lawsuit owed to Navarro allegedly murdering a bid officer, helium is eligible for the death penalty, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said.

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But Navarro has nary volition of seeing that punishment meted out, according to prosecutors, who contend that the suspect has hatched a program to skirt responsibility.

"The suspect is trying to manipulate the justness system," said Deputy District Attorney Marcus Garrett successful his opening statement, proceeding to expound upon the suspect's abilities. "Mr. Navarro is capable to multi-task and clasp information."

Garrett besides cited a forensic psychologist, saying she examined Navarro and stated, "In my nonrecreational opinion, he's presently competent" to basal trial, City News Service reported. The authoritative besides pointed to an alleged speech Navarro had with his woman successful jail, successful which helium appeared to boast astir their shared efforts, saying, "Everything is going according to our plan."

The defense, connected the different hand, has argued that Navarro has intelligence deficiencies affecting his communication, perchance owed to "bullet fragments" successful his head. According to the determination outlet, the justice overseeing the lawsuit ruled past twelvemonth that determination were grounds to proceed with a intelligence competency trial.

The shooting itself occurred connected Jan. 13, 2023, astatine a location connected the 18500 artifact of Hilldale Lane successful Lake Elsinore, California. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office was called about an lawsuit of home violence, and Calhoun was the archetypal lawman to arrive.

"Moments after" the serviceman arrived, Navarro fired aggregate shots astatine him, "striking Calhoun respective times," authorities said. Navarro besides allegedly changeable astatine different lawman "who came to Calhoun's aid."

The fishy was yet shot, detained, and transported to an country hospital.

Calhoun was besides rushed to a adjacent hospital, wherever helium was pronounced dead.

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"Deputy Calhoun showed unthinkable courageousness during a terrifying concern that unfolded successful a substance of seconds," Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said aboriginal that year. "His dedication to the assemblage culminated successful a ruthless onslaught by Navarro that besides enactment the lives of galore others astatine utmost peril."

Per California law, if Navarro is recovered to beryllium mentally incompetent to basal trial, helium volition apt beryllium assigned to "restoration treatment" — oregon placed successful a infirmary for treatment.

Calhoun is remembered arsenic having been a "devoted husband" and a "loving father," according to the sheriff's office. "Darnell's beingness was tragically chopped short, but those who were blessed capable to beryllium loved, mentored, and protected by him understood that the prime of his beingness acold exceeds the quantity of clip they had with him."