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Under a judge’s order, 51-year-old Stephen C. Baldino has been undergoing treatment and evaluation at the Anne Klein Forensic Center in West Trenton since the beginning of 2013.
This came after authorities arrested and charged him in the March 2012 stabbing death of neighboring tenant 59-year-old Lydja Mitchell after an argument.
Prosecutors says Baldino left the knife at the scene while taking “significant steps” to conceal the crime by soaking his clothes and shoes in bleach. Mitchell’s body was after a neighbor called police to check on her.
Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Danielle Gootenboer, defense attorney Robert N. Kalisch (STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
Presiding Superior Court Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi and lawyers for both sides conferenced by phone today with Dr. Dariusz Chacinski, a clinical psychologist at Anne Klein, as Baldino sat by himself at the defense table.
Chacinski told the judge that Baldino isn’t competent to be tried now. Although he understands basic concepts of the criminal justice process — including what it means to be tried by a jury of his peers — Baldino cannot grasp other concepts, such as plea bargaining, the doctor said.
At the same time, Chacinski said, Baldino is improving with treatment and is studying to prepare himself for an eventual trial.
“He wants to be competent. He is taking classes to help him gain competence,” the doctor said.
He recommended another competency hearing in three months.
“So you are recommending that in the hope that these concepts he doesn’t understand, plea bargaining and so forth -– that he may gain that knowledge?” Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Danielle Gootenboer asked
“I’m not sure,” Chacinski answered.
“I expect that a patient at some point is going to tell me ‘No one can make me testify.’ Plain and simple,” he added. “Mr. Baldino, no, he is not sure.”
Defense attorney Robert N. Kalisch told CLIFFVIEW PILOT that it matters little at this point.
“When he’s ready for trial, he is going to plead not guilty by reason of insanity,” he said.
“He has had mental issues for many, many years,” Kalisch said, “and even if he’s cooperative with treatment and takes his medication, he is always going to be insane.”
The lawyer also noted that Baldino’s father is 83 and concerned that his son’s status isn’t resolved.
“He’s not going to be around forever, and he wants to make sure Stephen is in a place where he’ll be taken care of,” Kalisch said.
Baldino has been diagnosed with disaphrenia, chronic paranoia and continues to have symptoms of schizophrenia, making him a danger to himself and the community.
However, the doctor agreed with Kalisch that Baldino might understand plea bargaining once it has been explained and discussed with him. The lawyer said they haven’t spoken about it yet.
DeAvila-Silebi sent Baldino back to Anne Klein and set a June 24 return hearing date.
His bail remains $2 million bail and the charges murder, knowingly causing a death, hindering apprehension and weapons possession.
Police went to check on Mitchell on March 5, 2012 after a neighbor in the two-brick building on Page Avenue near the Passaic River called to say she hadn’t been seen and didn’t respond to knocks on her door.
“Police found the door locked but were let in by the landlord,” Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said at the time. “Once inside, police discovered the lifeless and bloody body of Lydja Mitchell, who appeared to have suffered several stab wounds.”
Detectives got a search warrant for Baldino’s apartment, where they found “numerous items of evidence” linking him to the killing,” the prosecutor said.
STORY / PHOTOS: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter
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