Aukauskas requests hearing
By Kami Collins, Mountain Valley News staff
Fellipe Morfin, the Delta man who turned himself in to authorities after a crime spree two weeks ago will get his wish to stay incarcerated, at least for the short term.
When Morfin turned himself in on Jan. 18 he told officers he set two fires and broke windows in three Delta businesses and the county courthouse because he wanted to go back to prison. He set fire to a scrap box at a construction site in the medical park west of the hospital, and to his own RV. He faces one count each of criminal mischief and second degree arson, both count four felonies.
He appeared before Judge Sandra Miller in county court on Jan. 25 via phone from the jail. When the judge greeted him, he replied with a cheerful, “Howdy.”
Morfin has refused the aid of the public defender and wishes instead to represent himself. He asked to be sentenced to “as much time as possible.”
Judge Miller paused for several seconds. Finally she said, “I'm trying to think of a polite way to ask you if you're competent.”
Deputy district attorney Anna Cooling also said she doubted his competency. “He’s made some egregious statements as to what he may or may not do in order to stay in prison,” she said. Judge Miller added that she too was concerned about a statement Morfin made claiming he is “willing to hurt someone if that's what it took to stay in prison.”
He was prescribed Prozac to aid his mental focus, he said, and has not taken the medication since he's been incarcerated. Not taking the medication did not affect his abilities to handle court proceedings, he assured Judge Miller.
He has had a mental health evaluation in jail, but Judge Miller said she was not comfortable proceeding in the case until Morfin was evaluated by a psychiatrist. He will be transported to the mental health facility in Pueblo. When the judge told him that he will remain in custody for 5-6 weeks while waiting for a slot to open up at the facility, he replied that was “not a problem.” His case has been stayed until the evaluation comes back.
Also appearing that afternoon was Vaidas Zukauskas, who is facing charges of animal cruelty as a result of domestic violence. He is accused of killing his family's pets—two dogs, a cat and seven chickens—when his wife left the home after an argument, leaving him to care for the animals.
He appeared with his attorney Mike Dodson, who requested a dispositional hearing and modification of the restraining order against Zukauskas. Those issues will be brought before the court on Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.
