Man allegedly commits brutal murder just days after being freed by California’s mental health laws

California Mental Health Diversion Laws Under Scrutiny After Alleged Murder

After being granted immunity from prosecution under California’s mental health diversion laws, a Napa man, Ramiro Ochoa Mendoza, is now facing murder charges for the killing of Noel Batres. The body of Batres, 47, was discovered under a bridge on July 3, just three days after Mendoza was granted immunity.

Mendoza, 36, had a history of criminal offenses and poor compliance on probation. Earlier this year, he was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial on misdemeanor charges, including violating a restraining order and resisting arrest.

Despite attempts by defense counsel to dismiss the cases, Mendoza was ordered into a mental health diversion program with supervised release for the remaining misdemeanors. However, he failed to appear for his scheduled review and was found to be non-compliant with the program.

Even with repeated violations, the court was legally required to dismiss the charges due to Mendoza’s mental health status and the misdemeanor-only nature of his offenses. Recent legislative reforms, such as Senate Bill 317, prevent courts from restoring competency in misdemeanor-only cases.

Mendoza was re-arrested on July 11 and now faces murder charges with enhancements related to his prior offenses and the alleged brutality of Batres’ killing. The case has sparked debate over the limits of mental health protections and their impact on public safety.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist in returning Batres’ remains to his home country of Guatemala. Batres, a resident of Napa for 26 years, is described as a caring and gentle soul on the fundraising page.

Mendoza is currently held without bail at the Napa County Department of Corrections.