SAN DIEGO - A man accused of jumping on stage at a Taylor Swift concert at Petco Park and seriously injuring a member of the singer's security team was Wednesday deemed mentally competent to stand trial.
Christian Ewing was committed to a state hospital in July, but Judge Steven Stone ruled that his competency has been restored and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Dec. 28.
Ewing, 27, is charged with felony assault and battery and faces four years in prison if convicted.
Deputy District Attorney Jessica Coto said the defendant hopped a fence during Swift's concert on Aug. 29 last year but was told by the singer's personal security guard, David Durkin, that he couldn't be in that area.
Ewing was handed over to Petco Park security and was being escorted out of the San Diego venue when he escaped and ran onto the stage where Swift was performing her song "Style," Coto said.
During a violent struggle to get Ewing off the stage, the defendant dropped his knee into Durkin's sternum, causing the security guard's ribs to pop up over his sternum, causing great pain, the prosecutor alleged.
Once Ewing was dragged off the stage, he allegedly gave police a false name.
When asked why he went up on stage, the defendant replied, "I love that girl," referring to Swift, according to the prosecutor.
Coto said Ewing had several arrests in multiple states, an active warrant for a theft-related offense out of Florida, and a felony conviction for transporting drugs from out-of-state.
