Unity woman deemed competent to stand trial in 2 assault cases

A Unity woman was deemed competent to stand trial Friday and a hearing is set for next week to determine if she is eligible for bail in two cases.

Susan Barkley, 43, is accused by police of using a pen to attack a nurse at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital and chasing and ramming a vehicle outside Greater Latrobe High School.

Judge Christopher Feliciani said a Jan. 12 evaluation showed “she appears competent at this time.” Barkley was found to be incompetent to stand trial in July and was ordered to undergo treatment in an effort to improve her mental health to the point where she can participate in her defense.

With that matter settled, attorneys plan to argue bond next week.

Barkley was first arrested on assault and harassment charges after an October 2019 incident in which police said she chased a vehicle on Youngstown Ridge Road and rammed it twice with her Ford Expedition. The chase ended at Greater Latrobe High School.

Her $1,000 unsecured bond was revoked in that case after her June 2020 arrest on assault and escape charges. Police said she attempted to escape the mental health unit at the Greensburg hospital, grabbed and dragged a technician by the hair and used a pen to stab a nurse in the face, head and thigh, according to court papers.

She was denied bond in the second case. A defense bid in December 2020 to have her released to home electronic monitoring was rejected.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Iannamorelli said Barkley would be looking at a possible state prison sentence, if convicted.

“We need to have a much larger conversation about bond, given the nature of the case,” he said in requesting a separate hearing during Friday’s competency proceeding.

Defense attorney Ken Noga disagreed, saying he didn’t think “it’s all that complicated at this point.”

“She’s been either in Torrance (State Hospital) or in jail” since the second arrest, Noga said. adding that he didn’t think she would pose a problem, if released. “We need to have her bond reinstated.”

Feliciani said Barkley must comply with mental health treatment and recommended medications, if released. He will hear arguments on the matter Wednesday.