Attorney seeks mental tests for man

The defense attorney for Peter Sharp, a Castle Dale man charged with killing his parents, wants Sharp to receive an inpatient evaluation for mental competency.

David Allred said he plans to file a motion in 7th District Court seeking to have Sharp evaluated, and Allred said prosecutors are fully supporting the effort.

"In fact, they're helping to gather information … concerning his status," Allred said.

Sharp, 26, is charged with two counts of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, in the shooting of his parents Charmaine, 54, and William, 51, in the family's Castle Dale home. Peter Sharp also is charged with aggravated assault, a third-degree felony, for allegedly pointing a shotgun at his 12-year-old sister. Police say several young siblings were in the house during the Oct. 21 incident.

Kelly Sharp, one of Peter Sharp's uncles, told the Deseret News that his nephew had sustained a serious head injury during a truck accident and has not been the same since then, often appearing confused and even not recognizing members of his own family.

Allred said he is researching the accident, as well as gathering other information about Peter Sharp's history, such as medical records from some type of treatment that Sharp received following the accident.

Allred said Sharp has no criminal history that he has dealt with as a public defender who handles cases in two counties, but there may have been some minor difficulties with the law.

Both the Emery County Attorney's Office and Allred also want Sharp to be transported to the Utah State Hospital for the evaluation, a decision that Allred said he believes is determined by the hospital and the Utah Department of Human Services.

"Most of the time, they do them locally, but where this is such a serious case, we're going to ask that he be transported," Allred said.

Allred said prosecutors agree with him that an in-patient hospital stay will yield a more thorough evaluation of Sharp's competency.

Being found "competent" to stand trial does not mean an individual has excellent mental health, but the designation shows the person simply possesses the ability to understand the charges against him and how the court process works, and can assist his attorney in his defense.

Sharp currently is being held in the Emery County Jail with no bail.

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com