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Lee Murder Suspect Ruled Competent to Stand Trial

MADERA — The North Fork man charged with murder in the July 2019 shooting death of prominent Mono tribal elder Gaylen Lee has been found competent to stand trial.

Criminal proceedings were temporarily suspended earlier this year (Jan. 17) for Robert Eugene Moye, 47, after his court-appointed attorney questioned his client’s mental health.

“At this point, I have concerns about my client’s competency,” Moye’s attorney, Craig Collins, told Superior Court Judge Michael Jurkovich, who then temporarily suspended criminal proceedings and ordered Moye to undergo a mental evaluation by two different doctors.

“Both doctors said he was competent to stand trial,” Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno reported this week.

Robert Moye Jr.’s July 2019 booking photo

So with the mental evaluation complete, Moye is now next scheduled to appear in court May 8 for a preliminary hearing, Moreno added. A trial date could be set for later this year or early next year.

Madera County Deputy District Attorney Brooke Bergman is prosecuting the case.

Moye has been jailed on a $3.75 million bond since his arrest on July 6 of last year in the hours immediately following the late-night shooting, which occurred near Lee’s home on Cascadel Drive (Road 233) in North Fork.

Moye has previously entered pleas of not guilty to the murder charge as well as to two counts of attempted murder, being a felon/addict in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana/hashish for sale (over 2 ounces).

The incident took place as Lee and his family were gathering following the passing two days earlier of Lee’s mother, Ruby Pomona, who died on July 4.

Many of the details surrounding the shooting have yet to be made public but after a hearing in December 2019, public defender Collins told SNO that his client intended to argue his client acted in self-defense.

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