NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – Judge James Daniel denied an 11th-hour motion to delay the sentencing trial for Patrick McDowell in the murder of Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joshua Moyers.
McDowell pleaded guilty to shooting and killing Moyers during a traffic stop in 2021.
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McDowell’s defense lawyers said that the psychologist who first evaluated him for PTSD in 2010 has been denied permission by the Veterans Administration (VA) to come to Nassau County from Boise, Idaho, to testify in person.
The psychologist only examined McDowell once after he left the Marines after his deployment in Iraq. The psychologist never made a formal diagnosis of PTSD.
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She was recently deposed via Zoom and admitted she doesn’t remember McDowell.
His defense wanted to delay the trial, so it could challenge the VA’s denial.
The State Attorney’s Office opposed a delay, saying it does not contest that McDowell has PTSD, as its own mental health expert will testify.
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The judge denied the motion, saying since the psychologist doesn’t remember McDowell, made no working diagnosis and there’s no guarantee the VA will change its mind, he’s unwilling to delay the sentencing trial.
In March, McDowell’s attorneys argued to move the trial out of Nassau County. The judge also denied that motion.
The trial is set to begin on Friday, April 5 with the jury reporting to court to fill out a questionnaire.