SAGINAW, MI — A youth care worker accused of sexually assaulting three underage girls has been found psychologically unfit for trial.

Tyler L. Priest, 19, on Oct. 20 appeared before Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens for a competency hearing. The judge in September ordered Priest undergo an evaluation to assess his competency at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti.

Based on staff’s findings, Jurrens found Priest incompetent to participate in future court proceedings. The judge ordered Priest undergo further treatment at the Forensic Center in hopes of restoring his competency.

Under Michigan law, a defendant found incompetent has 15 months to regain competency in cases where charges may result in life imprisonment, unless prosecutors decline to pursue the case.

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