SAN ANGELO, TX — An Eden man accused of killing two Concho County deputies in 2021 has been scheduled for a jury trial on the issue of his competency after being restored to competency at a state mental health facility.
The head or designee of Vernon State Hospital in Vernon notified the court that Jeffery Nicholas, 33, was “restored to competency” after being committed for competency restoration services. Nicholas was to be returned to the court for further proceedings.
The defense requested a “jury trial on the issue of competency” and that “good cause exists” to hold the competency trial. The trial is scheduled for June 19 at the Tom Green County Courthouse in San Angelo, with Nicholas attending in person.
Nicholas was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on April 2 on two counts of capital murder of a peace officer or fireman and one count of aggravated assault against a public servant.
He was previously committed to Vernon State Hospital for treatment in late September 2025 after the state determined he was incompetent to stand trial during a competency hearing held in Tom Green County in April 2025.
Nicholas was arrested in May 2021 after two Concho County deputies, identified as Samuel Leonard and Stephen Jones, were killed and a City of Eden employee was seriously injured. The incident occurred during the nighttime hours of May 10, 2021, at an Eden residence following a dog complaint. The Texas Rangers reported that deputies contacted Nicholas during their investigation, an altercation ensued and it escalated to gunfire.
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