Criminal proceedings have been suspended against a man suspected of robbing two 7-Eleven clerks on Sports Arena Boulevard and kidnapping a taxi driver because his attorney doubts his mental competency.
A mental competency evaluation will take place in jail for Steven Raymond Stogsdill, 39, and a San Diego Superior Court judge will review psychiatric reports before deciding if Stogsdill does understand court proceedings on Feb. 7.
His lawyer made the request just before Stogsdill was about to stand trial. If the judge finds Stogsdill is not mentally competent, he will be sent to a state mental hospital for treatment.
If Stogsdill is found to be mentally competent, a new trial date will be set. He has pleaded not guilty.
Stogsdill is charged with holding up two clerks at the 7-Eleven at 3146 Sports Arena Blvd. around 8 a.m. on Jan. 8 as well as discharging a handgun once. No one was hit.
He is also charged with kidnapping a taxi driver for robbery and kidnapping during a carjacking, all of which occurred at gunpoint.
A prosecutor said Stogsdill could receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of all charges. Stogsdill asked a cab driver at the Old Town Trolley to take him to the 7-Eleven to get some coffee. He told the cab driver he didn’t have any money for the ride but would get some at the store.
The driver took Stogsdill up Rosecrans Street, but a traffic jam at Nimitz Boulevard and North Harbor Drive forced him to stop at the intersection. Police officers then opened the back seat door and arrested him.
A prosecutor said police found $82 in cash and the gun in the back seat. Stogsdill’s attorney said he had no prior record and is a 10-year Army veteran. He remains in jail on $2 million bail.