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WILKES-BARRE — After Milton Clark once again refused to leave his jail cell for a hearing related to charges he stabbed his nephew to death, lawyers are left wondering what to do next.

Clark, 59, is currently locked up in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. He’s been held there without bail since the April 23 stabbing of his nephew, Tarese Rahjaan Previlon.

This is the second time in about a month court proceedings were affected by Clark’s refusal to leave his cell. His formal arraignment in mid-November was rescheduled after county sheriffs alerted the court to the refusal to leave his cell.

Thursday’s motions hearing was to discuss a motion filed by one of Clark’s attorneys, Maura Anne Armezzani, asking for Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. to order Clark’s competency to stand trial be evaluated.

Armezzani said Clark has also refused to speak with her, leaving her unsure of how to proceed.

She said Clark has a “significant history of mental illness,” adding that he has essentially been a “ward of the state” for several years.

Armezzani also said that, during his preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Richard J. Cronauer this year, Clark repeatedly had to be told to be quiet after outbursts in the courtroom.

Sklarosky agreed with Armezzani’s assessment that a competency evaluation was necessary, issuing an order that a psychiatrist be assigned to the case to evaluate him.

It is unclear what the immediate course of action will be should Clark continue to refuse to leave his jail cell for proceedings.

According to police Previlon came to the aid of his mother, Lynn Williams, who screamed when she noticed Clark peeping on her while taking a bath. Clark allegedly stabbed Previlon in the heart before fleeing the home.

Clark was initially charged with aggravated assault, but the charge was changed to an open count of criminal homicide after Previlon died two weeks after the stabbing.

Previlon passed out while playing video games with a friend in early May, passing away a short time later at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre Medical Center. An autopsy showed he died as a result of the accumulation of fluid in his heart as a result of the stab wound.

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By Patrick Kernan

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