Williams v. State

SILBERMAN, Judge.

Lester L. Williams seeks review of his judgment and sentences for three counts of preventing or obstructing extinguishment of a fire and three counts of pulling a false alarm. Williams argues that the trial court erred by allowing him to stipulate to his competency instead of holding a competency hearing. We agree and reverse.

The charges were based on allegations that Williams repeatedly defaced sprinkler heads in his prison cell in the Charlotte Correctional Institution’s Mental Health Unit. At his first appearance, Williams waived his right to an attorney and opted to…