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Forensic exam not warranted for man accused of killing Kentwood teen

Accused killer Quinn James has shown a "calm and attentive'' demeanor at court hearings and does not warrant a forensic exam to determine his competency to stand trial on rape and murder charges, a Kent County Circuit Court judge ruled this week.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Accused killer Quinn James has shown a “calm and attentive’’ demeanor at court hearings and does not warrant a forensic exam to determine his competency, a Kent County judge has ruled.

James, who is awaiting trial on murder and rape charges, “may not be capable of rationally assisting in his defense,’’ defense attorney Jonathan Schildgen said in asking for a forensic exam.

But Kent County Circuit Court Judge George Jay Quist denied the motion, saying James’ demeanor has been “calm and attentive.''

"He has not engaged in any irrational behavior,’’ Quist wrote in a five-page opinion.

Quist saw James at the motion hearing on Wednesday, where he "acknowledged that he didn't want to answer'' questions from the judge.

“Accordingly, (James) appears to understand the proceedings as they occur and is able to assist in his defense,’’ Quist wrote. “There is no indication that (James) does not understand the nature of the proceedings against him or that he is unable to rationally assist in his defense.’’

In a separate ruling, Quist said he has the authority to decide whether the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office should be disqualified from cases involving James based on an alleged conflict of interest.

His attorney on May 21 filed a motion seeking to disqualify the entire Kent County Prosecutor’s Office from participating in cases involving James due to an alleged conflict of interest.

Schildgen, the defense attorney, contends a non-attorney employee in the prosecutor’s office had a dating and/or intimate relationship with James near the time of the alleged sexual assaults.

The prosecutor’s office denies any conflict of interest. Quist says he has the authority to hear and rule on the motion to disqualify; a hearing date has not been set.

James, 43, earlier this month was ordered to stand trial for first-degree murder in the death of 16-year-old Mujey Dumbuya, an East Kentwood High School student who accused James of rape.

The former Kentwood Public Schools maintenance worker has two sexual assault cases pending; one involving Dumbuya and the other involving a young woman who says he assaulted her four years ago in Gaines Township.

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