Staff photo / Ed Runyan Kevin P. Kramer, 45, of Ridge Avenue, at a hearing Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court with his attorney, Aaron Meikle. Kramer was found not competent to stand trial following a mental health evaluation and was sent to a state mental hospital to receive treatment so he can be brought back later to face a felonious assault charge.

YOUNGSTOWN — A Ridge Avenue man is being sent to Heartland Behavioral Healthcare, a state mental hospital, to be treated for several months with a goal of restoring him to competency to stand trial in the Jan. 8 stabbing of a man who is related to him by marriage.

If he is restored, Kevin P. Kramer, 45, will be brought back to Mahoning County to face a charge of felonious assault. If convicted, he could get about eight years in prison.

Kramer appeared Thursday before Mahoning County Common Pleas Court Judge Anthony Donofrio, who ruled Kramer not competent to stand trial after the defense and prosecution agreed Kramer was not competent to stand trial following a mental health evaluation.

The charge was filed after Youngstown police were called at 8:04 p.m. to Kramer’s home on Ridge Avenue, where a child answered the door and said she was scared and clung to the officer for comfort, according to a police report.

The officer found Kramer, who lived in the house, covered in blood on the floor and Robert Fowler, 44, standing over Kramer, wielding a large steak knife, and threatening him.

The officer ordered Fowler to put down the knife, which he did. Another officer detained Fowler, while the first officer went to Kramer, the police report states.

Fowler said Kramer, his wife’s brother, stabbed Fowler after Kramer walked up to Fowler and “sliced (Fowler’s) throat.”

Fowler said he then assaulted Kramer. Both men were taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for treatment.

The report states at the time of the fight there were several children in the home, which was in “deplorable condition with dog feces and urine all over the floor. One of the children was found to be sitting in a cat’s litter box.”

Food and running water were found in the house, but three small dogs were crammed in a small cage, the report states.