Cherokee County Judge Grants Second Competency Evaluation For Murder Suspect

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) -- A man accused in the deaths of an elderly Welling couple will undergo another competency evaluation.<br/><br/>Prosecutors had no objection when Cherokee County District Judge Bruce

Monday, September 11th 2006, 5:51 am

By: News On 6

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) -- A man accused in the deaths of an elderly Welling couple will undergo another competency evaluation.

Prosecutors had no objection when Cherokee County District Judge Bruce Sewell granted a defense motion for another evaluation for 22-year-old Johnny Keith Potts.

Defense attorney Lawrence Langley says the Hulbert resident was ruled incompetent to aid in his defense earlier in the case, but his condition improved.

Langley says he became concerned about competency again after he told Potts he would seek an insanity defense for him and Potts rejected the idea and refused to take his medication.

Potts is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of 74-year-old William McKinley Ryals and 65-year-old Elsie Ryals, who were found dead at their home in July 2005.

In February, Potts was found to be temporarily incompetent and was sent to the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita for treatment.