A judge has mandated a psychological evaluation for Clinton Craig Hefton (pictured below), 52, a Mountain View man accused of killing Stone County sheriff’s deputy Justin Smith.
On Monday, Circuit Judge Tim Weaver issued an order for a criminal responsibility examination in relation to the capital murder charges Hefton faces for the fatal shooting that occurred on Jan. 2 at a residence in Mountain View.
Deputy Smith was serving a misdemeanor terroristic threatening warrant on Hefton when, according to Arkansas State Police investigators, Hefton shot and killed him. Hefton was apprehended by law enforcement after a brief standoff.
Court documents reveal that Hefton’s attorneys expressed concerns about his understanding of the proceedings due to potential mental disease or defect, leading to a request for a mental evaluation. In response, Judge Weaver, on Monday, directed Hefton to undergo the examination.
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