A Craig man who allegedly stabbed a woman in July has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation.

The order was issued Wednesday during a status conference at the Moffat County Combined Courts.

Jack Trapp, 27, of Craig, was arrested July 21 and charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and felony menacing.

Craig Police were dispatched to the 500 block of Yampa Avenue at 7:19 p.m. in the city after receiving a report of a disturbance. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered a female victim who had suffered multiple stab wounds, according to Craig Police Chief Mike Cochran.

According to the affidavit, the initial dispatch call was for an assumed domestic violence situation, and law enforcement “did not know what was going on” until bystanders told them someone had been stabbed.

Law enforcement officers detained Trapp after a witness held him at gunpoint until help arrived on the scene.

According to the affidavit, the witness stated that she saw a man “bent over” the victim and allegedly “jabbing at her with a knife in the lower abdomen in the back.”

The victim was seen tucked into a ball, “trying to protect herself,” the document continues. The witness then drew her gun and chased Trapp until an officer was able to assist.

During an interview with law enforcement, Trapp said that he was “hearing noises telling him to do something bad,” according to the affidavit.

When police asked Trapp if he knew the woman, he said no, and “she was just the first person he saw after he decided that he needed to stab someone to go to prison,” the affidavit states.

Trapp added that he stabbed the woman’s neck because “if he killed someone, he would stay in prison,” the document adds.

According to the affidavit, police told Trapp that there are a lot of other crimes he could go to prison for, and asked why he chose to stab someone. Trapp said he was desperate and “saw an opportunity.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Trapp remained in the Moffat County Jail under a $500,000 bond.

During Wednesday’s status conference, Moffat County Judge James Hesson said it would be “appropriate” to order a competency evaluation, which is a formal assessment to determine if a defendant is capable of understanding court proceedings.

The evaluation will be completed within 21 days of the court’s order, according to Trapp’s attorney, Public Defender Abby Kurtz-Phelan.

Trapp’s next court date is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5.

Editor’s note: Every person accused of a crime is presumed to be innocent unless and until their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.