A Durango man whose mental competency to stand trial was raised as a legal concern last month took a plea deal Thursday and was sentenced to one year in prison for menacing.
Antonio Nez, 31, punched Davidson Curley Chee, 38, knocking him unconscious along the Animas River Trail behind Albertsons and Downtown Durango Inn. Chee was airlifted in critical condition to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction with an epidural hematoma and skull fracture. He eventually recovered.
Nez was charged with felony assault, but he pleaded guilty to felony menacing in a plea agreement with the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
District Judge Jeffrey Wilson sentenced Nez to one year in prison, but he will receive credit for 210 days of pre-incarceration, meaning he should be eligible for release in a few of months, if not sooner. He’ll also be on parole for two years.
Two psychologists had differing views last month on whether Nez was mentally competent to stand trial. After hearing testimony from both, Judge Wilson ruled Oct. 19 that Nez was competent to stand trial.
The assault occurred about 9 a.m. April 8 on the Animas River Trail.
shane@durangoherald.com
