By Janice Morse
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A 17-year-old Over-the-Rhine boy who is being prosecuted as an adult on a charge that he beat and raped his literacy tutor has been found competent to stand trial.

Butler County Common Pleas Judge Matthew J. Crehan made that ruling Tuesday in the case of Terrell Wilkins.

The decision was based on a psychiatrist's evaluation that said Wilkins made threats against the psychiatrist, lawyers and a judge, plus a previous sexual offense charge against another adult female. The report concluded Wilkins meets the two-pronged test of competency: He understands the court proceedings and is capable of assisting his lawyer in his defense. His court-appointed attorney, Brad Kraemer, declined to comment Tuesday.

Next week, Wilkins is scheduled for a hearing where a trial date will be set unless he enters a plea. Wilkins is charged with rape and felonious assault in connection with a March 7 attack against a 57-year-old woman in a basement classroom of the local YWCA.

A June 5 report prepared by Neal W. Dunsieth Jr., a Summit Behavioral Healthcare staff psychiatrist, said Wilkins has exhibited behavioral problems since early childhood.

Wilkins had 17 juvenile court cases against him, with 12 findings of delinquency including three for assault and three for domestic violence, the report said. In one case, he attempted to have sex with an adult female while she slept, Dunsieth's report said.

In that October 2001 incident, Wilkins was charged with a delinquency count of rape in Hamilton County Juvenile Court.Wilkins admitted to a reduced charge of gross sexual imposition, was placed on probation and ordered into sexual offender counseling, Hamilton County Juvenile Court Administrator Mark Reed said Tuesday.

E-mail jmorse@enquirer.com