Jury Decides Whether Accused Stockton Serial Killer Wesley Brownlee Is Competent to Stand Trial

A San Joaquin County jury is deciding whether Wesley Brownlee is competent to stand trial. Brownlee is accused in a death penalty case tied to six killings and one attempted murder. More than four years after a string of shootings terrorized communities in Stockton, the jury is weighing his competence. After six weeks of testimony from mental health experts, jail staff, family members and dozens of other witnesses, jurors began deliberations Thursday. The verdict will not decide guilt. It will decide whether Brownlee understands the proceedings and can rationally assist his attorneys.

Under California law, a defendant is competent to stand trial if he understands the nature of the proceedings. He must also understand his role in the proceedings. He must be able to rationally assist his legal defense. A unanimous verdict is required.

Brownlee’s attorneys argue he suffers from an untreated mental disorder. The disorder prevents him from meaningfully participating in his own defense, they argue. Defense attorney Allison Nobert told jurors the evidence showed a clear decline in his ability to communicate. She argued the case is not about whether Brownlee occasionally speaks to family members or jail staff. The question is whether he can rationally assist attorneys preparing a complex capital murder defense. The defense said Brownlee has become increasingly isolated and withdrawn. He is unable to provide lawyers with the information they need to defend him, the defense said.

Jurors heard recordings of phone calls between Brownlee and family members. He was largely silent or gave limited responses on the calls. The defense said the calls reflected a genuine mental health crisis. The calls did not reflect a strategic refusal to participate, the defense said. Concerns about Brownlee’s competency originated with his legal team. The team filed a formal declaration of doubt in 2024 after a breakdown in communication with their client.

Deputy District Attorney Elton Grau urged jurors to reject the defense argument. Grau contended the evidence showed Brownlee remains capable of participating in his defense but chooses not to. Prosecutors highlighted jail video, recorded phone calls and conversations with family members. The evidence showed Brownlee could communicate coherently when it served his interests, prosecutors said. Grau argued competency is based on Brownlee’s present condition, not his past mental health history. The prosecution maintains Brownlee understands the charges against him. He can work with counsel if he chooses, prosecutors said. The key issue is unwillingness to cooperate, not an inability to communicate.

Brownlee was arrested in October 2022 after authorities linked him to shootings in Stockton and Oakland. Prosecutors accuse him of killing six men and attempting to murder a woman. The victims named in court records include Jonathan Hernandez Rodriguez, 21. They also include Juan Carlos Carranza-Cruz, 52. Prosecutors also accuse Brownlee of attempting to kill Natasha LaTour, who survived a shooting attack. The killings sparked widespread fear across Stockton and surrounding communities. Residents altered daily routines while investigators searched for a suspect in a massive manhunt in 2022.

A jury decides facts in a trial. Jurors hear testimony from witnesses and experts. A unanimous verdict means every juror agrees.

If jurors find Brownlee incompetent, proceedings pause for competency-restoration treatment. If they find him competent, the long-delayed Stockton murder case moves forward toward trial.