Court Watching: Judge Oakley orders competency exam for sexual attack defendant

During a June 21 court session, 34th District Court Judge Brian A. Oakley ordered a competency exam for defendant Darien Noel Fickling, 47, of Romulus who is charged with a bloody attack on a woman jogger in Oakwood Metro Park in Huron Township on June 6.
Fickling’s court-appointed attorney asked for the competency exam to answer three questions: whether his client is fit to stand trial, his criminal responsibility, and his ability to waive his Miranda Rights.
Judge Oakley said it is hard to know how long it will take for Fickling to get his competency exam, but Judge Oakley suggested seven weeks might be a good guess and set Fickling’s probable cause conference for Aug. 9.
Fickling has been lodged in the Wayne County Jail since his arraignment and was brought to court, where a television camera was waiting to record the session.
The defense attorney asked for a reduction of bond that was set at $100,000 cash or surety. The attorney said the defendant lives in Romulus, his wife is pregnant, he has four children, and he “wouldn’t flee.” He suggested a tether might be a good idea.
But the prosecutor said flight is less of a concern than the safety of the community. She said the victim was grabbed in the park, there was an attempted sexual assault, he has a lifetime of convictions, and he gave a full confession. She said there was blood all over his pants and he had the victim’s cellphone in his possession.
Judge Oakley, who had set the bond at Fickling’s June 8 arraignment, said he will leave the bond where it is.
The defense attorney said the pregnant wife, who was in the courtroom, said she needed a card and key from her husband’s wallet, which is being held as evidence because there is blood on the wallet. Huron Township police said if the two items aren’t needed as evidence they could be released to the wife.
Fickling is charged with four felonies: kidnapping, unarmed robbery, criminal sexual conduct – assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Fickling was charged after a 26-year-old Rockwood woman jogging in the park at about 3:05 p.m., June 6, noticed a man riding a bicycle toward her in an area of the park with heavy shade trees.
She told police she turned to run in the opposite direction, he caught up to her, punched her in the face several times, and attempted to remove her clothing. She told officers she fought the man and he ran from the area, taking her cell phone.
She ran in the opposite direction to a nearby home where a woman allowed her to enter and call police. Fickling was arrested the same day by Metro Park officers and he had the woman’s cell phone in his possession.