East Naples man accused of beating teenage girl unconscious to undergo competency evaluation
A 40-year-old East Naples man charged in the brutal beating of a teenage girl who rejected his flirtatious advances will undergo an evaluation to determine if he is mentally fit to move forward in criminal proceedings.
Circuit Court Judge Joseph Foster granted the request after a public defender representing Bruce Gordon, who faces a felony battery charge, requested an expert be appointed to conduct an examination earlier this month.
Previous coverage: Police: East Naples man, 37, beat girl unconscious at mall after she rebuffed his advances
More: Multiple Collier murder trials left in limbo for years, delayed by competency hearings
Naples Police officers responded to the Coastland Center Mall in October 2020 after a witness said he heard Gordan yelling and calling the juvenile girl a "bitch" before punching her several times in the face until she was unconscious, an arrest report states. He proceeded to stomp on her as she was lying on the ground not moving.
According to the witness, Gordan had begun flirting with the victim before she told him to leave her alone, provoking his attack, the arrest report indicates.
The girl had a large cut on her eyebrow, a large knot on her head and bruises on her chin and lips.
She was taken to Naples Community Hospital North and suffered a severe concussion but did not have life-threatening injuries, according to Naples Police Department.
Gordan pleaded not guilty and was deemed competent to proceed in May 2021, and a jury trial was previously set for the first week of January.
The expert's report is due by Feb. 11, and a case management hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17.
Connect with breaking news reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader: @racheyy_marie (Twitter) or rachel.heimann@naplesnews.com
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier man accused of beating girl to have competency evaluation
