Retired judge weighs in on Robert Dear comments

Former District Judge Victor Reyes says the media should proceed with caution when in comes to comments from admitted Planned Parenthood shooter, Robert Dear.

The Gazette reports that Dear called the newsroom on Tuesday, demanding to face a jury. He told the Colorado Springs newspaper that he’s innocent of 99 percent of the charges filed against him for the Nov. 27 attack that left three people dead and nine others wounded.

Dear said prosecutors went “way overboard” by charging him with 179 counts.

Reyes, a retired judge with the 10th Judicial District said Dear can call the media every day with a new tactic, but it won’t matter if he’s found incompetent.

“If the person is incompetent to proceed, they will not stand trial until they’re restored to competency. So, he could call every day and make outlandish statements every day, things that don’t make sense but that’s not going to change the fact that there’s a report out there and the proceeding must stop,” Reyes said.

Reyes said any comments coming from Dear need to be weighed carefully.

“What we’re talking about is reporting to the public statements made by somebody who has mental health issues,” Reyes said.

Reyes said the mental health of Dear has to be a major consideration for reporters when publishing his statements. He said his motives and legitimacy of the call has to be questioned.

“Is this really Mr. Dear? I don’t know, and there is a danger when newspapers or any form of media starts reporting comments by somebody that you’re not face-to-face with,” Reyes said.

Reyes added that a reporter could actually be a witness at a competency hearing to testify about the conversation.

Fourth Judicial District Chief Judge Gilbert Martinez set an April 28 hearing to release the results of Dear’s mental health exam.