Father to undergo competency exam

PROVO — A Provo man who police say threatened to drive off a cliff with his three young children in his car will undergo a mental-competency exam, a judge ruled Thursday.

Christopher Young, 36, faces three charges of attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony and three charges of child abuse/neglect, a second-degree felony, for his alleged threats to his children on April 18.

Defense attorney Richard Gale asked 4th District Court Judge Steven Hansen to allow 30 days for a review to evaluate Young's "diminished mental capacity."

"Just because someone's mentally ill doesn't mean they're not guilty," said Deputy Utah County Attorney Donna Kelly.

With a guilty-but-mentally-ill plea, an individual would still serve the same amount of time in jail, but it would be split with time spent in the Utah State Hospital. At the hospital, treatment would be given with the hope of regaining competency so the rest of the sentence could be served in jail or prison.

In April, Young took his children from their mother, Adella Young, saying he was going to take them to the park. However, Adella Young said he soon called her, saying he was going to hurt himself and the children and that she would never see them again.

Adella Young called police, who quickly located Young in Lehi. An Amber Alert also was activated.

Officers stopped Young, whose car was perched on a cliff near Point of the Mountain, took him into custody and returned the children to their mother.

The children later told police their father had told them he was taking them to meet Jesus.