Ernesto Torres, aged 70 years, has been found legally incompetent to stand trial for the crimes alleged against him by Circuit Court Judge Julie Stevenson Solt, due to his possible inability to grasp reality.
Torres is facing a whopping 98 charges of various sex crimes stemming from incidents that occurred from 2001 to 2019, while he was practicing medicine in Frederick Country, Maryland. The charges name 19 victims, all of whom were under the age of majority at the time the alleged crimes occurred.
According to the New York Daily News, Judge Stevenson Solt said that, while mental health experts disagree on Torres's condition, "both opinions were equally possible and that she could not conclude, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Torres was 'presently' competent to stand trial."
Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith had the following to say about the judge's decision:
"It’s very frustrating that these countless victims won’t be able to confront the Defendant and have their day in court."
"It often provides some closure and assists in the healing process. With this ruling, that avenue is closed. We still feel strongly that he is competent and fully understands the abuse that he inflicted."
Torres's psychiatrist claims that he cannot stand trial "due to a delusional disorder and belief in an Evil Black Witch."