Competency issues linger in e-mailed threats case

PROVO — A man convicted of threatening public officials brushed off his attorney Wednesday, demanded the original files of his competency review and asked a prosecutor to represent him before he was physically removed from a 4th District Court room.

Bradley Roberts Taylor, 43, was convicted by a jury in November of making threats against life and property after he e-mailed Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and other elected officials and talked about "bloody revolutions," taking justice into his own hands and using "lethal force."

Taylor claimed he had been wronged by the government and wanted a DUI conviction dismissed. However, court searches reveal no such conviction.

He was set to be sentenced in March, but defense attorney Tom Means requested another review into his mental competency. Previously, two doctors had found him competent, and one had found him incompetent.

Wednesday's hearing was supposed to be a discussion of two new reviews, but Taylor told Judge Lynn Davis that he didn't want Means to be his attorney anymore, and that he was concerned that one of the doctors hadn't done an official evaluation.

Taylor also said he believed the competency-review process was taking too long and was violating his rights.

Davis reminded the handcuffed defendant of several hearings for which he had refused to be transported from jail, or in which he came, but refused to cooperate with his attorney.

After Taylor requested to represent himself, which was granted, he immediately demanded the two doctors' reports, which Davis gave to his law clerk to make copies.

"By law, you are the judge. You are supposed to provide me a copy," Taylor said as two deputies moved to stand on either side of him.

"That's what we're doing right now," Davis said.

"I'd like the real deal, not a copy," Taylor said. "I don't want to see an exact copy. I want to see the exact original."

Taylor said he was concerned the documents would somehow be falsified in the copy process, but Davis allowed him to view each set to verify their truthfulness.

Taylor wanted to look at the documents at the lectern but was told he could look at them back in a holding cell.

"You can't by law lay a hand on me until I finish with my hearing," Taylor told the deputies, who had moved in closer.

Davis assured him he was done with his hearing, and the deputies began to take him away.

As he was being escorted out, he turned to prosecutor David Sturgill and asked if he would represent him.

"This is illegal," he kept repeating as he was taken out.

Taylor will be in court again, representing himself, June 17.

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com