A court-ordered psychiatrist evaluated self-acknowledged child molester and retired priest Lawrence Hecker for a third time on Thursday, declaring him “fragilely competent” to stand trial on rape and kidnapping charges.
New Orleans criminal court judge Benedict Willard initially stopped short of declaring Hecker competent to stand trial and assist in his own defense. But a minute entry later said Willard found Hecker competent and kept a 24 September trial date in place.
