Judge doubts mental competence of man accused of running over wife

CHINO -- A judge has suspended criminal proceedings after declaring he has doubts about the mental competence of a man accused of running over his estranged wife with an SUV.

Judge Gerard S. Brown appointed a doctor to examine Carlos Briseno, 45, after questioning Briseno's mental competence Thursday in Chino Superior Court.

Briseno faces attempted murder and other criminal charges for allegedly running over his wife with a GMC Yukon in March in the parking lot of an AutoZone store at 12160 Central Ave. in Chino.

"I was informed by Briseno's attorney that he felt his client was not mentally competent based on his recent dealings with Briseno," Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten said today.

Wooten said the doctor's report on whether Briseno is mentally competent should be completed before Briseno's next scheduled court appearance on June 9.

In a November court declaration filed in response to his wife's request for a restraining order, Briseno said he has a "major depressive disorder, recurrent."

"I admit I have a mental illness, but I have done everything in my power to control them," Briseno wrote. "I take my medication, I regularly see my doctors."