A 61-year-old woman accused of burning a Nativity scene and other religious displays outside Christ Church North Bay was found not mentally competent to stand trial after a court-ordered evaluation. A Marin County judge suspended criminal proceedings and ordered further evaluation to determine whether placement in a state hospital is needed. The defendant remains jailed on $250,000 bail and faces felony arson charges for a structure or forest land and property. Hate crime allegations were added by the District Attorney's Office. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for Sept. 18. The public defender declined to comment.
A woman charged with arson at a Novato church is not mentally competent to stand trial, according to a court-ordered evaluation. The findings on Denise Irene Roberts, 61, prompted Marin County Superior Court Judge Kevin Murphy to suspend criminal proceedings on Wednesday. Roberts will undergo an evaluation to determine if she needs to be placed in a state hospital. Murphy set the next hearing for Sept. 18.
Roberts, a Santa Clara resident, remains in custody at the Marin County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Officers arrested Roberts for allegedly burning a Nativity scene and other religious displays outside Christ Church North Bay on July 12. Roberts had religious delusions that caused her offenses, Novato police alleged. She was charged with felony arson of a structure or forest land, and felony arson of property. The Marin County District Attorney's Office also added hate crime allegations to her charges.
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