A man accused of bludgeoning his mother and stepfather to death in their Texarkana, Ark., home nearly eight years ago has been declared fit by a psychologist at the Arkansas State Hospital.
At court hearings in the first weeks and months following his arrest, Scoggins made bizarre, nonsensical statements at court hearings. Scoggins repeatedly claimed his mother and stepfather were still alive because he had "pushed rewind," alleged his name is Meg Kennedy and appeared to converse with non-existent voices.
A June 15 report from a forensic psychologist at the state hospital includes a finding that Scoggins is currently fit to move forward through the court process. A criminal defendant must be able to understand the proceedings against them and be able to assist in their defense to be found competent. Competence and sanity are not the same thing under the law.
Scoggins has a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, according to the June report. Since he first began exhibiting psychotic symptoms at 19, Scoggins has been committed to psychiatric facilities more than a dozen times, court records show.
And while the June report finds Scoggins is currently competent, it states that at the time of the murders, Scoggins was incapable of understanding the criminality of his conduct and unable to conform his behavior to the law. According to the report, Scoggins is eager to dispose of the two counts of capital murder pending against him through a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The report notes that even though Scoggins is still plagued by delusions he understands what he can and can't say in court.
"He was acquitted by reason of insanity in the past and thus appears to understand this process," the evaluation states. "His interactions, during the present evaluation, indicate that he has the ability to work effectively with his attorney in attaining an acquittal by reason of insanity."
Such a finding could eventually lead to Scoggins' release from the state hospital.
Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black, Harrelson and Jones, agreed that the next step in Scoggins' case is a hearing to address the Arkansas State Hospital's psychologist's findings in greater depth. Jones scheduled a hearing for September at which witnesses, including the psychologist who penned the June report, are expected to testify as to Scoggins' current level of competency.