Former Abercrombie CEO dominated unfit for trial, ordered hospitalized – NBC New York

A federal choose dominated Friday that the previous CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch shouldn’t be competent to face trial on intercourse trafficking prices and ordered him hospitalized to see if his psychological situation improves.

Michael Jeffries’ attorneys sought the ruling final month, writing in a letter filed in a New York federal court docket that the 80-year-old requires around-the-clock care as a result of he has Alzheimer’s illness, Lewy physique dementia and the “residual results of a traumatic mind damage.”

The protection, in addition to prosecutors, requested that Jeffries be positioned in federal Bureau of Prisons custody so he will be hospitalized and obtain therapy which may enable his legal case to proceed.

“The court docket finds by a preponderance of the proof that the defendant is presently affected by a psychological illness or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he’s unable to know the character and penalties of the proceedings in opposition to him or to help correctly in his protection,” Choose Nusrat Choudhury wrote in his choice.

He directed the Legal professional Basic’s workplace to put Jeffries in a hospital for as much as 4 months.

Jeffries has been free on $10 million bond since pleading not responsible in October to federal prices of intercourse trafficking and interstate prostitution.

Prosecutors say he, his romantic accomplice and a 3rd man used the promise of modeling jobs to lure males to drug-fueled intercourse events in New York Metropolis, the Hamptons and different places. The costs introduced in October echo sexual misconduct accusations made in a civil case and the media in recent times.

Of their letter, Jeffries’ attorneys mentioned no less than 4 medical professionals concluded that their consumer’s cognitive points are “progressive and incurable” and that he won’t “regain his competency and can’t be restored to competency sooner or later.”

Jeffries left Abercrombie in 2014 after greater than 20 years on the helm. His accomplice, Matthew Smith, has additionally pleaded not responsible and stays out on bond, as has their co-defendant, James Jacobson.