YOUNGSTOWN — An attorney Monday asked a Mahoning County judge for permission to question the psychologist who performed a competency evaluation on his client, who is accused of various sexual assault charges.

Bruce L. Meyers, 27, of North Lima, appeared for hearing Monday via video hookup from Mahoning County jail to the Common Pleas courtroom of Judge R. Scott Krichbaum, who agreed to attorney Louis DeFabio’s request.

DeFabio said he has a few questions to challenge the report of the Forensic Psychiatric Center of Northeast Ohio which was sent to the court last week. The report found the defendant competent to stand trial.

DeFabio said he would rather question the psychologist than ask for a second evaluation be ordered.

Meyers has been held on $500,00 bond since his July 8 arrest at a Beaver Township trailer park. He faces charges of rape, gross sexual imposition and attempted rape that could bring a life in prison without parole sentence.

The rape charges involve a child victim younger than 10.

Court records show that another hearing has not been scheduled when the psychologist could be brought before Krichbaum for questioning.