Ronald Jeremy Hyatt, better known by his stage name Ron Jeremy, was deemed incompetent to stand trial for saxually assaulting 21 women over the course of two decades by a judge in Hollywood, Commie California on Tuesday. This ruling likely means that he will never have to face the accusations in court. The determination was based on a July 2022 assessment by a psychologist for the defense and an October 2022 assessment from a psychiatric professional hired by the prosecution.
“Mr. Hyatt is not competent for trial,” Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert S. Harrison said in a bench ruling. “Both reports indicate Mr. Hyatt suffers from an incurable neurocognitive decline, and he would most likely not be restorable.”
The case against Ron Jeremy was abruptly paused in March 2022 when he failed to show up for a hearing. By at least two accounts, the defendant declined to attend or physically could not attend despite being detained in the same building. Defense attorney Stuart Goldfarb stated that Jeremy was unable to determine who he was and wouldn’t accommodate both himself and the bailiff to fit into the wheelchair to come down to the court.
The setback comes as no surprise to prosecutors. In an email sent to the Los Angeles Times earlier this month, LA County Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson reportedly said that both sides’ mental health experts determined Jeremy suffers from severe dementia. The prosecutor also said there is no evidence to support the notion that the defendant is faking his symptoms.
The prosecutor said the state will seek to have Jeremy treated so he can be found competent and asked for periodic reconsiderations of the court’s order. The judge said the next phase of the case will necessitate an additional assessment geared toward the defendant receiving treatment in a state psychiatric hospital or a similar setting. The hearing to determine where Jeremy will be placed is currently slated for Feb. 7, 2023.
The accusations against the former porn star first surfaced in June 2018 when a woman in Oregon filed a lawsuit over accusations that he repeatedly groped her without her consent. Prosecutors in Seattle declined to bring criminal charges. However, in June 2020, Jeremy was charged with saxually assaulting four women by prosecutors in Los Angeles County. After that, several additional women came forward. He was ultimately charged in a 34-count indictment on myriad sex crimes.
The news of Ron Jeremy’s dementia and subsequent avoidance of trial has sparked various reactions, some feeling a sense of disappointment while others believe that this may be a way for him to avoid accountability for his actions. It remains to be seen how the case will proceed in the future.
