Judge orders mental evaluation of suspect in liquor store case

By Neal Putnam

Criminal proceedings were suspended Aug. 30 against a woman who allegedly went on a rampage at the Ramona Old Time Liquor store after her attorney said he doubts she is mentally competent to stand trial.

An El Cajon Superior Court judge appointed psychiatrists to evaluate Roslynn Melitina Garcia, 25, in jail and to submit a report for an Oct. 14 hearing in San Diego Superior Court. She remains in the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility on $25,000 bail.

Garcia is accused of felony vandalism in a July 20 incident in which $4,000 in damages occurred at the Main Street store. Deputy District Attorney Christopher Chandler said Garcia was upset and intoxicated at the time.

She is also accused of misdemeanor battery upon the store owner, Peter Aboudi, and resisting an officer during an arrest, according to court records. Aboudi and a sheriff’s deputy testified in an Aug. 4 preliminary hearing in which she was ordered to stand trial.

After defense attorney Tom Ziegler informed Judge Peter Deddeh he was concerned his client was not mentally competent, Deddeh was required to suspend proceedings and appoint doctors. The exam is set for Sept. 27.

Court records say she caused $3,000 in damages to a slushy machine and $1,000 in damages to a wine rack in which many bottles were broken. The vandalism charge is a felony because damages exceed $400.