Trial or Treatment for Assault Accused | Lexington News

Lexington News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 13, 2026 · 1m

A man accused of a brutal downtown assault may never stand trial—his attorney is pushing for a competency hearing, arguing Ronald Witham is unfit to face justice. If granted, charges could be dropped and he sent to a mental health facility instead of prison. But here’s the twist: his release wouldn’t hinge on a verdict, but on when mental health professionals deem him stable—possibly by Christmas. One psychologist says rehab is unlikely, while prosecutors claim he’s faking symptoms to game the system. The judge’s decision looms, raising urgent questions about safety, justice, and the limits…