Arizona’s YouTube Mom ruled incompetent but restorable

PHOENIX – Arizona’s infamous YouTube mom, who allegedly abused five adopted children who appeared in her popular series of videos, was ruled incompetent to stand trial Wednesday.

A Pinal County Superior Court judge gave prosecutors a 15-month window to restore 47-year-old Machelle Hobson of Maricopa to competency.

“Both the prosecution and defense experts found the YouTube mom incompetent to stand trial, so there is no question about that,” KTAR News legal expert Monica Lindstrom said.

“Now the question becomes, who will the restoration specialist be that will try to restore her to competency?”

Hobson was arrested in March and indicted by a grand jury on 30 counts, including kidnapping and a variety of child abuse charges.

She has pleaded not guilty to abusing five of her seven adopted children.

Among the allegations were that she pepper sprayed the kids on their genitals and locked them in a closet.

Police said the children, who were malnourished, were taken out of school so they could keep filming videos and hadn’t been back to class for years.

Her Fantastic Adventures channel drew more than 240 million views for 36 videos and more than 800,000 subscribers from its 2012 debut until YouTube took the channel down after the arrest.

Lindstrom said for defendants to be ruled competent they must understand the charges they face and be able to assist their attorneys.

“If they are restored to competency, then they can stand trial,” she said. “If they cannot be restored, then they can be committed to a mental care facility.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[newsletter][/newsletter]

Related

Attorney says Arizona's YouTube mom isn't competent to stand trialArizona YouTube mom faces 30 charges for abusing 5 kidsYouTube mom's 2 adult sons will not be charged in Maricopa abuse caseArizona mom pleads not guilty to abusing kids for YouTube fameMesa man sentenced to 26 years in prison for sexually exploiting minorLuna Grill Mediterranean restaurant to hold grand opening of 1st West Valley location