JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Duval County judge ruled Thursday morning that the man charged with trying to kill a child in a Best Buy restroom is not competent to stand trial.
James Tadros, 29, was awaiting trial for attempted first-degree murder, kidnapping, aggravated child abuse and criminal mischief after the attack in August.
Investigators said Tadros lured a 9-year-old girl into the restroom of the Best Buy on Southside Boulevard. They said Tadros attacked the girl and pushed her head into a toilet. She fought back, and the commotion she raised brought store employees into the bathroom. They held Tadros for police.
A defense psychologist concluded Tadros is not competent to stand trial. Circuit Judge Adrian Soud made the decision after two doctors, one from the state and one from the defense, concluded Tadros has an intellectual disability or autism.
Wayne Henderson, Tadros' attorney, said his client has been autistic since he was a child.
"In such cases, these people with this condition are required to have examinations, and they did this and both doctors concluded that he's incompetent to go to trial," Henderson said.
Tadros will be transported from the Duval County Jail to a forensic treatment facility in Chattahoochee.
He will be reevaluated over the next two years, during which time doctors could determine he's been rehabilitated and can stand trial.
Henderson said Tadros is "very happy to see me when I come to see him, always very appreciative of visits, generally quiet, never disruptive or anything. We don't talk very long. He doesn't like to visit more than five or seven minutes, something like that."
Tadros has a review hearing set for October.
"The (girl's) family is glad one page is behind them and there won't be any more court hearings in the case," said Ann Dugger, of the Justice Coalition.
Dugger said it was a long recovery for the girl, but she's doing very well.