Mental competency review for suspect in Big 5 hostage case

A psychological evaluation is in the works for a Modesto man charged with taking two hostages during an alleged botched robbery last month at a Yuba City sporting goods store.

Judge Perry Parker ordered a mental competency review on Wednesday in Sutter County Superior Court to determine if Juan Carlos Alvarez is fit to stand trial, officials said.

Criminal proceedings have been suspended pending the evaluation.

Alvarez, 29, was arrested Aug. 6 after a four-hour standoff with Yuba City police at Big 5 Sporting Goods on Colusa Avenue.

Nobody was hurt.

Police said Alvarez entered the store, fired a handgun into the ceiling and took two employees hostage.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery, assault and false imprisonment.

Officers credited one of the hostages, Allyson Taylor, with ended the standoff without violence.

Taylor, an 18-year-old recent Yuba City High School graduate, has previously said she believes Alvarez was highly distraught and possibly intended to commit “suicide by cop.”

Alvarez is scheduled to appear again Oct. 29 to determine if he understands the charges against him and is able to aid his attorney during criminal proceedings.

He remains in custody without bail at the Sutter County Jail.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.