A Cincinnati agency has determined a local man is competent to stand trial.

Charles R. Hall Jr., 22, of 615 Cliff St., Ironton, was indicted in May on one count of second-degree felonious assault. He was charged in the beating of another man.

At the time of his arraignment in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, his attorney, Mike Gleichauf, raised the possibility of an insanity defense. But in a report dated July 7, the Court Clinic said that Hall is “competent to a reasonable degree of certainty and is capable of understanding and assisting in his defense.” In the report, that agency also stated Hall does not meet the criteria for using the not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) defense.

Gleichauf asked that Hall’s bond be modified from $50,000 cash plus a $50,000 own recognizance (OR) bond to simply an OR bond.

Judge D. Scott Bowling denied the request for a bond modification and scheduled an Aug. 3 pretrial conference.

In another case, Robert Ferguson, 49, of 412 Gallia Pike, Ironton, admitted he violated his community control sanctions, also known as probation, by failing to make required child support payments.

Court officials said Ferguson’s arrearage is slightly more than $10,000. He has three children, one under the age of 18. Ferguson will be sentenced Sept. 28.

Also Wednesday, William Pence, 24, of 326 Township Road 1034, South Point, was arraigned on a charge that he violated his probation by failing to perform an adequate amount of community service, pay restitution and court costs.

“My client says in his mind, he has done more community service than what has been suggested,” Pence’s attorney, Warren Morford said.

Bowling scheduled an Aug. 10 trial date and set a $20,000 OR bond.

Pence was one of three people arrested in 2006 in connection with vandalism at Lake Vesuvius.