SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld a district court decision to extend the criminal commitment of a Las Vegas, New Mexico, man placed in a mental institution after he was accused of killing his roommate in 2003.

Psychiatrists have told different judges over the years that Ricky Quintana, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, could not stand trial because of his mental illness, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported Thursday. He was instead committed to the state Behavioral Health Institute.

A district judge ruled in 2017 that Quintana still presented a danger to the community and extended his commitment for another five years.

The Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed the decision, ruling that defendants found to be mentally incompetent to stand trial and dangerous can be ordered to spend additional time in mental institutions.

Prosecutors accuse Quintana of killing and mutilating his roommate Michael Grube, who was 47. The district court extended his commitment after concerns Quintana would not take his medication and his psychosis might return.

Officials said defendants who are committed to mental institutions must be reviewed every two years for competency and for how dangerous they are.

Under the New Mexico Mental Illness and Competency Code, there is no maximum sentence for people who are committed.

But defendants can receive the maximum sentence they would have received in their criminal case if they had been mentally competent to stand trial.