A 21-year-old Santa Rosa man charged with stabbing his father to death was ruled mentally competent to stand trial by a second doctor.
Houston Herczog is charged with the Nov. 21 murder of Mark Herczog, 63, who was stabbed more than 50 times in their Rincon Valley home.
Judge Dana Simonds ordered an examination from a second forensic psychologist after Herczog's lawyer reported she was unable to talk with him about his case.
The doctor found Herczog was mentally fit, and Simonds reinstated criminal proceedings against him on Thursday.
However, Herczog's lawyer, Karen Silver, objected to the decision and called for a jury trial to determine if Herczog is able to assist in his defense. Simonds scheduled the trial for June 4.
Jurors could send Herczog to a state mental institution until he is deemed competent. If he is ever released, he could then be tried on the charges.
He attended Thursday's court hearing shackled to a wheelchair. There was no mention of an incident earlier this month when Herczog was accused of throwing a pill at a jailer.
Family members declined to comment as they left the courthouse.
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