Doctors to Assess Mental Competency of Man Accused in Violent San Mateo Attempted Rape

By Bay City News: 

Criminal proceedings have been halted against a man accused of viciously attempting to rape a woman in a dark San Mateo Caltrain station stairwell last October until doctors can gauge the defendant's level of competency, the San Mateo County District Attorney's office reports.

 On Wednesday, doctors will be appointed to assess whether or not transient Fernando Chamale-Boch, 21, is competent to stand trial, according to the district attorney's office.

 Chamale-Boch is facing charges of felony attempted kidnapping for the purpose of sexual assault, assault with intent to sexually assault, false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery for allegedly attacking a woman as she attempted to cross to the other side of the train tracks through a darkened stairway on Oct. 20, 2013.

 Prosecutors say Chamale-Boch was standing in a dim hallway around 7 p.m. and grabbed the woman just after she fearfully turned to run back up the stairs she had just entered.

Chamale-Boch grabbed his victim by the waist and put his hand over her mouth to silence her before pulling the woman six feet down the stairs, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

 The woman violently resisted Chamale-Boch, scratching and punching his face, before she was able to run away and call 911. Police were able to identify Chamale-Boch by the scratches on his face and the victim later identified him, Wagstaffe said.

 Chamale-Boch has denied any involvement in the alleged attack. Today was the second scheduled setting of the preliminary hearing since Chamale-Boch's initial arraignment on Oct. 22, 2013. He remains in custody on $2,000,000 bail.

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