UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn has been legally ordered to undergo a mental health assessment to determine his fitness and level of penal responsibility in his ongoing criminal court cases.
Judge Peter Kubota, of Hawaii Third Circuit court, made the ruling Wednesday, as Penn faces family abuse and protection order violation charges.
According to Hawaii News Now, which first reported the development, Penn was present in court for the hearing and pushed back against Kubota’s request for a mental health assessment.
The findings of the exam could significantly impact what happens and what is possible with Penn’s legal proceedings.
Penn has been arrested five times since Memorial Day weekend. The legal saga began when Penn, 46, was initially arrested in May on family abuse charges after he allegedly shoved his mother, Lorraine Shin, into a vehicle and stole her mail. He then was arrested two times in June for violating the protective order, and another time in September.
In recent months, Penn has utilized his social media pages to share unusual posts and videos, some in which he claims his family members are imposters and not actually who they say they are.
Penn’s family members have said in court that they believe the UFC legend might be suffering from Capgras syndrome, a rare delusional mental disorder that is thought to be tied to brain injuries.
