|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A Menlo Park man who allegedly carved the letter “R” into several downtown Redwood City business windows, causing more than $60,000 in damage, has been declared incompetent to stand trial and committed to a state mental hospital.
Roman Leon Contreras is accused of carving his first initial into at least 16 windows on the evening of July 12 and into the morning of July 13. He was reportedly seen on surveillance video using a rock to etch into windows and told police he wanted to carve his signature on every business in downtown Redwood City.
After Contreras’ defense attorney declared doubt regarding his competency, Judge Kevin Dunleavy appointed Dr. Robert Cassidy to evaluate him. On Sept. 17, Cassidy reported that Contreras was not competent to stand trial.
The case was then sent to mental health court, where Judge Susan Jakubowski ruled it was in the interest of justice to send Contreras to a facility to be restored to competency.
On Oct. 29, Judge Dunleavy ordered Contreras committed to the California Department of State Hospitals, which operates the state’s mental hospitals, for no more than two years. Dunleavy also ruled Contreras lacked the ability to make decisions regarding antipsychotic medication and that he be involuntarily administered medication for treatment of an unspecified mental disorder.
As previously reported by this news organization, Contreras had been released before the July incident over the objections of the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office after failing to appear in court for three years.
In May 2022, Contreras allegedly broke car windows and caused $15,000 in damage to a vehicle belonging to the mother of a former classmate. He admitted to the crime and said he was “traumatized by his dreams,” according to the District Attorney’s Office.
He was mailed a summons to appear in court for arraignment, but never did, and a warrant was issued. He was not arraigned in that case until March 18, 2025, after another arrest. While the District Attorney’s Office wanted him remanded until trial, San Mateo County Superior Court Commissioner Timothy Elliott released him on his own recognizance.
Contreras was ordered to appear on April 20, 2025, but did not show up, and another warrant followed.
When asked why Contreras had been released, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told this news organization at the time, “Welcome to 2025.”
“He was granted (release on his own recognizance) over our objection. I don’t know why (the judicial officer) would do that, given he hadn’t shown up in three years,” Wagstaffe added.
According to the court’s website, Commissioner Elliott is typically assigned to the civil division. Commissioners are hired by the judges of the court and can exercise some of the same powers as judges. Judges are either elected or appointed by the governor.
Contreras was returned to custody in the 2022 case after his arrest in the July 2025 vandalism spree.
Both cases are suspended while he has been committed. According to San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office records, Contreras is awaiting transfer to the state hospital while held at the Maguire Correctional Facility.
A hearing will be held on Dec. 30 to confirm whether he has been transported to the state hospital.
