WASHINGTON — The ex-con accused of kidnapping the Montgomery County judge
he lived with has been found competent to stand trial, and the trial has been
delayed.
Rickley Senning, 25, smiled in a green prison jumpsuit as a judge approved his
request for new lawyers. The new lawyers swiftly said they agreed with a
Montgomery County doctor’s report that found Senning is rational, understands
the judicial process and is able to assist in his own defense.
At a second hearing Friday morning in Montgomery County Circuit Court, a
different judge indicated he expected a dispute about Senning’s competency.
But Senning’s new lawyer, Charlie Shaffer, told that judge that Senning is
“sound as a dollar.”
Senning’s previous lawyers requested the mental evaluation.
He is accused of kidnapping and attacking a 53-year-old judge he was
romantically involved with while living in her home. She represented him as a
public defender in 2008, but was no longer his lawyer.
A challenger in this month’s Circuit Court election raised the propriety and
wisdom of Judge Audrey Creighton’s relationship with Senning as an issue in
the race. She still won election along with three other incumbents. She had
first been appointed to the court after going through a nominating and vetting
process.
Prosecutors say Senning forced her to drive from western Montgomery County
toward Gaithersburg on May 19 as he screamed at her and pulled her hair.
She only escaped by jumping out of the car at a Harris Teeter in Germantown,
Maryland.
Senning is then said to have moved to the driver’s seat and crashed not far
away.
After being charged, he was indicted in July on 10 counts including
kidnapping, assault, auto theft and driving under the influence.
A judge granted a request Friday to delay the start of his trial from Monday,
Nov. 17 to Feb. 17. The case is expected to be a jury trial lasting about
four days.
Shaffer, Senning’s new lead lawyer, is a big name attorney who was a member of
the Warren Commission. He defended John Dean during Watergate and, according
to an online biography, once prosecuted Jimmy Hoffa.
Shaffer says this is the only case he is working on now.
Senning has a long history of criminal convictions or plea deals on robbery,
gun, assault and trespassing charges. He has also violated his probation in
the past. Since his arrest he’s been behind bars.
Montgomery County prosecutors have recused themselves from the case, so it is
being handled by the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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