Ralsten Hearing to Continue This Month

John Ralsten Case Still in the Courts

Updated 9/12/2102 4:15 P.M.

A motion to reconsider: that ended a hearing this morning for the vienna doctor accused of killing his wife.

John Ralsten already was found incompetent to stand trial last year.

Wednesday's hearing was to determine what ralsten would've been convicted of, if he had gone on trial.

But at the request of prosecutors, Judge Jeff Reed agreed to reconsider whether the hearing was necessary.

It'll be at least a month before there's a ruling.

The hearing, if it is held, would also determine the maximum number of years the state could hold Ralsten in a mental health facility.

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UPDATE: 09/12/2012 3:02 PM

A Vienna doctor accused of killing his wife will have to wait until the end of this month for his hearing.

John Ralsten is accused of killing his wife in April of last year.

Previous evaluations determined him incompetent to stand trial. Now, The Wood County Prosecutor's Office must put forth evidence in another hearing.

This will help Judge Jeff Reed determine what Ralsten could have been convicted of, if he was competent to stand trial.

It will also determine the maximum number of years the state can hold him in a mental health facility. That hearing is set for September 25th.
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Update 08/15/2012 6:45 P.M.

He was in court Friday, but a Vienna doctor indicted last week for the murder of his wife earlier this year did not enter a plea.

A Vienna doctor remains incompetent to stand trial for killing his wife.

Sharpes Hospital, where John Ralsten has been undergoing mental evaluations, made that report to Wood County Circuit Court, where the results were released at a hearing Wednesday.

By law, a hearing must happen to determine what offenses Ralsten could have been convicted of, and the sentence he could have received.

It hasn't been determined if witnesses will take part in that hearing, which would take place sometime this fall.

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Vienna doctor John Ralsten appeared for arraignment Friday in Wood County Circuit Court, but did not enter a plea due to an ongoing matter of whether he is competent to stand trial.

At the same time, a hearing regarding that issue was postponed, because his case has been assigned to a different judge as a result of his indictment.

The postponed hearing was to be held before Judge Robert Waters. After Ralsten was indicted September 16, his case was assigned to Judge Jeffrey Reed.

The hearing has been rescheduled for October 16TH.

A medical expert, in a report made for Ralsten's attorney, determined Ralsten was not competent to stand trial.

A separate report is being done for prosecutors by another medical expert.

Meanwhile, a December trial date has been set for Jaymason Robinson, who is charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

He was convicted earlier this year for the deaths of Lester Wratchford and Eric Sprouse in September, 2009.

Robinson is now serving a prison sentence for those deaths.

And a Parkersburg foot doctor faces a November trial date, for allegedly selling hydrocodone pills at his Gihon Village office.

Podiatrist Scott Feathers was indicted in January of last year, and charged with delivery of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.