Ariel Castro, the man charged with holding three women against their will in his Cleveland home for close to a decade, is mentally competent to stand trial a judge ruled on Wednesday, according to USA Today.
After evaluating Castro for two hours court-appointed psychiatrists were able to determine that Castro was mentally fit and would be able to assists his attorneys throughout the course of the trial. Cuyahoga Country Judge Michael Russo denied Castro's request to be able to visit with the child that he fathered with one of the imprisoned women, according to USA Today.
"I won't be allowing that, not during the pendency of this case," Judge Russo said. "I just don't think that would be appropriate."
Judge Russo will allow Castro's adult children to visit their father as he is being held on $8 million bond.
Castro has plead not guilty to a 329-count indictment that includes hundreds of charges of rape, kidnapping and one charge of aggravated murder for allegedly beating one of the women so severely that it forced her to have a miscarriage. If Castro is convicted of that last charge he would be eligible for the death penalty, according to the Associated Press.
Castro allegedly kidnapped the three women between the years of 2002 and 2004; Amanda Berry was 14 at the time, Gina DeJesus was 16 at the time, and Michelle Knight was 20 at the time she was kidnapped.
The three, along with the six-year-old child, were rescued with the aid of neighbor Charles Ramsey in early May. Berry was the first to escape when Ramsey helped her after hearing her screaming, according to CNN.
At the time Deputy Police Chief Ed Tomba told CNN how happy he was that the women were released.
"This is a great, great outcome that we have them still with us," Tomba said. "It's just truly, truly amazing and it's a blessing to the community and to the members of the police department and their families that they're alive. I can't tell you how happy we are."
A hearing on July 11 will decide if the state wants to seek the death penalty for Castro. The actual trial is scheduled to start on August 5, according to USA Today.
