Court Update: Isaac Noriega Completes Mental Evaluations, Competency Hearing Set for January 26, 2026

Since our last update on November 22, 2025, significant developments have occurred in the criminal case against Pastor Isaac Noriega. The court has formally ordered mental competency evaluations, appointed two doctors to examine Noriega, and set a competency hearing for January 26, 2026. Here is everything that has happened.

November 24, 2025: Competency Evaluation Motion Granted

On November 24, 2025, Judge Mark Hotchkiss presided over the Rule 11 hearing in Courtroom 386. Contrary to expectations, Noriega did not appear in person. His attorney Douglas Taylor successfully secured a waiver of appearance, allowing Noriega to remain absent.

At this hearing:

• The media requested access to cover the proceedings. Defense attorney Douglas Taylor objected, citing privacy concerns. Judge Hotchkiss overruled the objection, finding that while privacy considerations exist, they do not outweigh the broad right of media access to court proceedings. The court allowed cameras and audio recording devices.
• The competency evaluation motion was granted. The court found that reasonable grounds exist for a competency evaluation.
• Two doctors were appointed from the certified competency evaluator list to examine Noriega and submit reports regarding his mental condition under Arizona Rule 11.
• The case was reassigned to Division LF for all further Rule 11 proceedings.
• A Competency Hearing was scheduled for January 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Division LF.
• Rule 8 time was excluded, meaning the speedy trial clock is paused until competency is determined.

December 2, 2025: Examination Order Issued

On December 2, 2025, the court issued a formal Rule 11 Order of Examination. The order confirmed the charges against Noriega:

• False Report – Child Abuse/Neglect (Class 6 Felony)
• False Report – Child Abuse/Neglect (Class 1 Misdemeanor)

The court appointed two mental health experts to examine Noriega:

Dr. Bradley Johnson, M.D.
Examination scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 4:30 PM
Location: 6812 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 114, Tucson, AZ 85704

Dr. Sean Flynn, Ph.D.
Examination scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 9:00 AM
Location: 5920 E. Pima, Suite #140, Tucson, AZ 85712

The order specified that each expert must provide an opinion on:

1. Whether the defendant is competent to stand trial. Specifically, whether he can understand the nature of the proceedings and assist in his defense.
2. If found incompetent, the mental disease or defect causing the incompetency, whether there is a substantial probability he will become competent within a reasonable period, and recommendations for treatment.

The order also mandated that defense counsel immediately provide all of Noriega's criminal history, police reports, and medical/behavioral health history to the evaluators.

December 4, 2025: Defense Attempts to Reschedule Evaluation - Denied

On December 4, 2025, defense attorney Douglas Taylor filed a Motion to Reschedule the first competency evaluation scheduled for December 10, 2025. The motion stated that "the defendant is not available at the time" and requested a morning appointment between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The timing is revealing. The evaluation was scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th at 4:30 PM. Golden Dawn Tabernacle holds church services on Wednesday evenings. Noriega was likely concerned that attending a late-afternoon mental evaluation would make him late to service, or force him to miss it entirely, and the congregation would notice. A morning appointment would allow him to complete the evaluation without anyone at the church knowing where he had been.

The same day, Judge Hotchkiss denied the motion.

In his order, Judge Hotchkiss wrote:

"Considerable time and effort is expended by arranging and scheduling evaluations with the various doctors that assist with the Rule 11 process. Defendant's Motion fails to demonstrate sufficient cause to reschedule the existing evaluation scheduled for Wednesday December 10th, 2025 at 4:30pm and is therefore respectfully denied."

The denial meant Noriega was required to attend the December 10th evaluation as originally scheduled.

December 10, 2025: First Mental Evaluation Conducted

The first mental evaluation with Dr. Bradley Johnson took place as scheduled on December 10, 2025. Dr. Johnson's Rule 11 Evaluation report was filed with the court on December 22, 2025.

The report is sealed.

The cover sheet states: "TO BE OPENED UPON ORDER OF A JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT ONLY."

This means the contents of Dr. Johnson's evaluation, including his opinion on whether Noriega is competent to stand trial, remain confidential until the court orders otherwise. The sealed nature of this report is consistent with how the defense has handled this case from the beginning: maximum secrecy, minimum transparency.

January 7, 2026: Second Mental Evaluation Conducted

The second mental evaluation with Dr. Sean Flynn took place as scheduled on January 7, 2026. Dr. Flynn's report has not yet been filed with the court, but is expected before the upcoming competency hearing.

Upcoming: Competency Hearing

One critical date remains:

Monday, January 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM
Competency Hearing in Division LF, Pima County Superior Court, Room 386.

At the January 26th hearing, Judge Hotchkiss will review the reports from both Dr. Johnson and Dr. Flynn and determine whether Noriega is competent to stand trial.

Case Status Summary

See latest CR20252710 court records below:

What This Means

The competency evaluation process is now fully underway. Both evaluations have been completed, and a hearing will determine whether Noriega can stand trial.

If Noriega is found competent, the case returns to Judge Fell and proceeds toward trial on the charges of failing to report child abuse.

If Noriega is found incompetent, the case could be delayed indefinitely while he undergoes treatment to restore competency. Depending on the nature of the findings, the charges could be affected in other ways.

The central question remains the same: How can a man who continues to serve as senior pastor of Golden Dawn Tabernacle, preaching lengthy sermons, overseeing church operations, and exercising full authority over his congregation, simultaneously claim he has dementia and cannot understand court proceedings or assist in his own defense?

What Isaac Told the Congregation vs. What Is Actually Happening

The congregation has not been told the truth by about what is happening in court by Golden Dawn Tabernacle church leadership.

According to reports, Isaac Noriega recently told his congregation that the court is after the church's money and that he is doing what he can to protect it. He likens himself to Apostle Paul being persecuted for the spreading the gospel, and says that those prosecuting him want to throw him in jail and take the church assets.

This is false.

The court is not after the church's money. Isaac Noriega is facing criminal charges for failing to report child abuse as required by Arizona law. He is being prosecuted by the Pima County Attorney's Office. The charges are a Class 6 felony and a Class 1 misdemeanor under A.R.S. 13-3620(A).

The congregation has not been told that their pastor filed a motion claiming he has dementia. They have not been told that a judge ordered him to undergo mental competency evaluations. They have not been told that two doctors have now examined him. They have not been told that a sealed psychiatric report has been filed with the court. They have not been told that a hearing will soon determine whether he is mentally fit to stand trial.

Instead, they have been told a story about the court coming after their money.

This is the same pattern of secrecy and deception that has characterized Noriega's leadership for decades. The congregation deserves the truth. They deserve to know that their pastor is claiming mental incapacity in court while presenting himself as fully capable from the pulpit. They deserve to know what he is actually being charged with and why.

The January 26, 2026 Competency Hearing is open to the public. We encourage anyone who is able to attend.

More updates will follow after the hearing.

Do you have any information you'd like to share about this topic? Feel free to comment below, or you can contact us directly at our Contact Us page or via our social media accounts below.

Archived Comments#

5 comment(s) imported from the original site:

Saved by Grace — January 18, 2026#

Paul and the Apostle were persecuted for exposing the greed of the Pharisees and the Temple hierarchy. They went publicly declaring that the temple and its rituals were no longer sacred nor required. Isaac you are being brought to justice by the government for failure to protect children from rape and molestation. Then you double down and demand that these same people serve you like slaves. Blinded and deceived that you speak for God. Your not senile your a fox.

Brother Berean — January 19, 2026#

Did the Apostles who were persecuted for their faith use the congregations tithes to hire the most expensive lawyers to represent them in court? NO… they put their trust in God because they were standing on truth not sitting on a throne of lies or claiming to be incompetent and senile. Isaac is a nothing but deception

Perfect love — January 23, 2026#

El dia miercoles 10 de Diciembre, en su primera evaluation, “predicó” Mateo su hijo, ya que por la hora de la cita, (4:30pm)…no llegaría a tiempo a la iglesia… , a la congregacion se le dijo que no predicaría ese dia porque estaba enfermo. Oviamente a los miembros de su iglesia les da lo mismo, ahunque supieran la verdad, son SOMBIS voluntariamente . Padres siguen Alli exponiendo a sus hijos a tremendo abusos, la mayoría estan llenos de miedo, o por no perder familia o dinero, o pribilegios.. Y finalmente porque, la mayoria del ministerio Nuevo son amigos( ellos asi lo creen) de Mateo, y se tapan los ojos y oidos, para no ver que tambien Mateo los está usando, por su dinero, su trabajo,( Mano de obra gratis), y para asegurar pareja para sus hijas. Y para sus Noriega family.

Nueva generacion…olvidada… — January 30, 2026#

Issac Noriega, tu chantaje efimero, con tus hijos y sobrinos y tus nietos dandoles Toda clase de dadivas, es edificar sobre arenas movedizas, como los necios, no se si lo veraz algun dia, pero todos se están derrunbando… Y vosotros amigos de Mateo, sois tontos?… El los está usando para su beneficio, … No hay mas ciego que el que no quiere ver…. Como pueden permitir abuso tras abuso a sus hijos? Abran los ojos y escapen..si es que en verdad aman a sus familias.

David Alcantar — February 16, 2026#

Well…when Mike Ramirez and I built his first mansion ..a 5000 sq ft house..I know because I designed it and built it.. Mike and I were eating lunch ..and Isaac suggested that maybe the trutees should control the money ..or tithing coming into the church..hoping that we would say ..as we were both trustees that we felt he should handle the money…we stayed silent as Mike and I had talked about his problem with money..after a moment of silence..he said I don’t think so ..it is not the churches money…I know for a fact he once told me the thithing was 4000.00 dollars a week ..that was like 30 yrs ago or more..