The trial of a Gassville man facing three counts of rape has been delayed.
Thirty-seven-year-old Bradley Thomas Uren was scheduled to go on trial next week, but his attorney filed motions to have his client mentally evaluated.
The attorney, Anthony Pirani, Jr., of Fayetteville, asked the court to approve examinations to determine if Uren is fit to proceed in his case and mentally capable of being held responsible for his acts.
A court order signed by retired Circuit Judge Gordon Webb was filed last week approving the request. All activity in cases where an evaluation is pending stops until a report is prepared.
Judge Webb is handling cases in various counties in the 14th Judicial District on assignment from the Arkansas Supreme Court to help clear the backlog created by restrictions on court operations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
CAN MEAN LONG DELAYS
For some time, it has been taking six months or longer to have psychological evaluations conducted and a report returned to the court.
Uren has been an inmate in the Baxter County jail since March 6, 2020 with bond set at more than $500,000.
This is not the first time action in the case has been halted. Shortly after charges were initially filed, the Arkansas Public Defender’s Commission appointed Little Rock lawyer Latonya Honorable to represent Uren.
Honorable, however, filed a motion to withdraw citing “safety concerns” in dealing with Uren and the request was granted in an order filed March 2.
The Little Rock attorney is black and Uren has been known to direct racial slurs at a member of the Baxter County jail staff who is also African-American.
After Honorable withdrew, Pirani was appointed, filing his entry of appearance May 6.
Much of the information in the rape case is sealed by court order.
COUPLE FILED FOR PROTECTION
Some information has come to light in petitions to obtain protective orders filed by Bradley Uren seeking to keep his now ex-wife away from him.
Jennifer Uren has filed similar petitions against her now ex-husband.
In one of his petitions, Bradley Uren accuses his then estranged wife of wanting to sell one of their children to relatives of hers for $10,000. He alleges Jennifer Uren and others “have a conspiracy” to get him “out of the picture.”
In a petition filed by Jennifer Uren, she charges her husband with being violent toward her and the children and of “molesting” them.
She said during their marriage, Bradley Uren had hit her, tried to break her arm and threatened her life and the lives of the couple’s children.
Jennifer Uren wrote that her husband had installed “peek holes” in the home enabling him to watch “every move” made by his wife and children.
A divorce decree was granted in late November last year.
Court records show that the children are in the custody of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.
CURRENT SEX OFFENDER
Bradley Uren is currently a registered sex offender. His records show he is required to register during his lifetime after being convicted of sexual battery in August 2005.
According to the Baxter County Sheriff’s website, his sex offender status stemmed from an incident in another state involving an 18-year-old Bradley Uren and a 14-year-old female.
He was convicted of encouraging the minor female to come to his house where he forced her to remove her clothing at knifepoint.
DOES NOT WANT TO TESTIFY
Recently, the lawyer representing Jennifer Uren in her case in which she faces permitting child abuse charges filed a notice in Bradley Uren’s rape case giving notice she did not intend to testify in his trial.
Her lawyer wrote that since her charges arose out of the same set of circumstances that led to the allegation against her ex-husband, she would invoke her right against self-incrimination. The state is expected to object.
Currently, Jennifer Uren’s case is set for trial next week.
JAIL ATTACKS
In addition to his rape charges, Bradley Uren also faces allegations stemming from two altercations in the Baxter County jail.
The latest came on February 7 when Uren and another inmate were reported to have attacked a fellow prisoner.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim had to be transported to Baxter Health for treatment and then transferred to a hospital in Springfield.
The other altercation took place in late September last year in which Uren attacked jail staff.
The incident began when Uren was reported to have begun kicking the door to his cell and then throwing the morning meal cart and contents at jail staff. He was alleged to have screamed at jailers – cursing and using a number of racial slurs.
After being subdued, Uren was taken to an isolation cell where he was to be locked down for a 24-hour-period.
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