A hearing has been scheduled to determine whether Curtis Martin—the 24-year-old parolee who in September 2010 allegedly attacked a Santa Maria Denny’s employee for “being gay”—is mentally competent to stand trial.
The hearing has been placed on the docket for March 28.
According to court documents, Martin has been charged with attempted murder, committing a hate crime, infliction of great bodily injury, and use of a deadly weapon. Martin is also facing charges for having a previous felony conviction.
In 2007, Martin was convicted of making death threats against some of his family members. The court ordered a competency hearing for the case, and Martin was deemed mentally sound during the incident. He was sentenced to two years in state prison, but ended up serving less time based on credits for time previously served and good behavior.
According to transcripts from that case, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rogelio Flores said Martin was “a danger” to society and himself. The judge also raised concerns about Martin not taking medication for a clinical mood disorder.
The hate-crime case prosecutor, Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin Duffy, is claiming the murder attempt on the Denny’s employee was “willful, premeditated, and deliberate.” If convicted, Martin could face life in prison.
According to police reports, in the early morning hours of Sept. 16, 2010, Martin knocked on the window of the Denny’s restaurant on East Main Street, which was temporarily closed for maintenance. Once he was let in, Martin approached one of the employees and asked him if he was gay. When Martin heard what he thought was an affirmative, he allegedly attacked the employee, stabbing him in the neck and face.
Martin then fled to his car and drove westbound on Main Street. Shortly thereafter, a Santa Maria Police Department officer found and arrested Martin on suspicion of attempted murder and engaging in a hate crime.
The victim was transported to Marian Medical Center for treatment and was later released.
The attack garnered attention from national media outlets. Many gay rights organizations, including Santa Barbara County’s Pacific Pride Foundation, used it as a springboard to talk about the broader topic of hate crimes.
“These hate crimes make the [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender] community feel unsafe,” Pacific Pride Foundation executive director David Selberg told the Sun. “But I am pleased that the Santa Maria Police Department has labeled it as a hate crime.”
Martin is due back in court on Feb. 23. He’s currently being held on $2 million bail at the Santa Barbara County Jail.
This article appears in Feb 17-24, 2011.
