The man arrested for the molestation of a 12-year old girl at Oscar Patterson Elementary is now facing more charges that have been reinstated from an earlier case, charges that were dropped because the suspect was deemed mentally incompetent to proceed.
The State Attorney's Office sees his release from the Florida State Hospital as competency to face those previous charges
32-year old Quanzda Hillsman was arrested last month for the molestation of a 12-year old girl at Oscar Patterson Elementary. Hillsman has a history of similar sexual offense charges dating back to 1998. In 2009, Hillsman was charged for the sexual battery of a child under the age of 12, but like the previous offenses, charges were dropped because the defendant was found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
According to State Attorney Glenn Hess, "Judge Overstreet entered an order placing him with the Department of Children and Families to be housed in a hospital, again, with an order from the court saying he shall not be released without a court order."
In less than a year and a half of treatment at the Florida State Hospital, Hillsman was released, according to Glenn Hess, without a court order.
"For some reason, the state allowed him to go free without the permission of the Judge in violation of the judges orders," says Hess.
While there are still questions surrounding Hillsman's release from the hospital, the State Attorney's Office sees this as an indication of competency.
"He was released. The assumption is that the hospital found him to be competent. Once he's restored to competency, the rules provide that we can recharge him, which we've done," says Hess.
A representative from the Florida State Hospital says he could not speak on this specific case, but says there is no way anyone who has been committed to treatment by the court would be released without the court's permission. He says a patient can be released, however, if the charges have been dropped.
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