IN a stipulation filed in the Superior Court, attorney Charity Hodson, who represented Brandon Russell Camacho, and Assistant Attorney General David Krach had requested that the case be transferred to Mental Health Court. However, they withdrew the request after discussions with Judge Joseph N. Camacho at a hearing on Friday.
At the hearing, Hodson informed the judge that her client, Brandon, was now mentally competent but had not been mentally competent at the time of the alleged offense. Judge Camacho told the parties that any defense of not guilty by reason of insanity or mental illness can only be raised at the jury trial stage.
“A defendant who claims to be incompetent will have to undergo a mental evaluation for competency,” the judge added.
The stipulation had requested that all proceedings in the case be stayed pending legal and clinical evaluation for Mental Health Court. Following the withdrawal of the stipulation, and with the defendant waiving the requirement for a preliminary hearing within 10 days, Judge Camacho continued the preliminary hearing to Aug. 29 at 10 a.m., with arraignment scheduled for Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.
Brandon Camacho, 40, a U.S. Army veteran and the suspect in a viral video assault, has been released from Corrections custody after posting 10% of his $15,000 cash bail, or $1,500.
Camacho was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. He surrendered to the Department of Public Safety after an arrest warrant was issued on Aug. 8.
DPS had been investigating an assault incident that went viral and occurred on Aug. 6, 2025 at Welcome Market in San Roque. A video of the incident shows a man in a green shirt and dark hat striking a shirtless man with a bat. DPS identified the man in the green shirt and dark hat as Brandon Camacho.
According to DPS, the shirtless individual encountered his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend inside the store. He was then confronted by Camacho at the entrance and struck with the bat.
The victim told investigators that he was at the store when he met his ex-girlfriend, who introduced him to Camacho, before they went their separate ways. While making his purchase, the victim said Camacho returned to the store and demanded an apology. The victim said he was unsure why, as he had not said anything to provoke the confrontation.
Investigators said the altercation continued outside the store. Camacho continued to demand an apology while holding a bat. When the victim did not apologize, Camacho pushed him with the bat multiple times and struck him in the head, shoulder, and arm. The victim tried to defend himself during the attack.
