Hearing postponed in child-abuse case

By: John Welsh

A judge postponed a mental competency hearing for a Moreno Valley woman accused of abusing her five adopted daughters.

Jessica Banks' defense attorney, Donna Ortlieb, requested the continuance Friday.

Banks, 61, is charged with 14 counts of various abuse allegations, including 14 counts of willfully harming a child and two counts of sex abuse. She has pleaded not guilty of all the charges.

Judge Gary B. Tranbarger appointed two doctors in April to evaluate whether Banks is mentally competent to stand trial.