Activist Nativo Lopez nearly lands in psych ward

March 10th, 2011, 2:50 pm
Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter

Immigration activist and recalled former Santa Ana schools trustee Nativo Lopez was today ordered to confinement in a psych ward – but within hours, the judge rescinded the ruling.

Based on a psychiatric evaluation, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli initially found Lopez was not competent to stand trial in his voter fraud case and ordered him to Patton State Hospital.

But shortly afterward, Lomeli received a fax with an updated evaluation and decided not to send Lopez to the psych ward after all, according to Los Angeles District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison and Deputy District Attorney Juliet Schmidt.

“The psychiatrist changed his mind and decided that Lopez is malingering,â€