Local social media star was charged after targeting neighbors. Why was case dismissed?

A Pierce County man who garnered a large social media following will be involuntarily committed for mental health treatment instead of face charges of stalking and harassing his South Hill neighbors, at least for the time being.

Martin Cabello III, 46, recently was deemed mentally incompetent for a third time to answer to the charges, leading a Pierce County Superior Court judge this week to dismiss the criminal case against him, court records show.

Originally charged in District Court before that case was tossed out and refiled in Superior Court in March 2023, Cabello had faced three counts of stalking, three counts of cyber harassment in violation of a protection order and one count of felony harassment.

The charges were filed after Cabello allegedly violated anti-harassment orders granted to three neighbors who he purportedly accused in online videos of being involved in unfounded crimes, such as child trafficking, rape and murder, charging papers show.

Cabello’s mental health became a central focus of the criminal case. He underwent two prior evaluations that reached the same conclusion as his most recent one at Western State Hospital on July 30: As a result of a mental disease or defect, Cabello lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and to assist in his own defense, court records show.

A court order Monday declared that Cabello had been found incompetent to face the charges and dismissed the criminal case and directed his civil commitment. The order was agreed upon by both the prosecution and Cabello’s assigned counsel. Cabello’s attorney didn’t respond to a message seeking comment.

“Mr. Cabello’s neighbors went through hell thanks to the wild accusations he made against them. Our office filed criminal charges because of the constant harassment they suffered,” Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Adam Faber said in a statement. “Now that the competency restoration process has run its course and the criminal case is at its end, the involuntary commitment process will now be handled by the state Attorney General’s Office. Our office will have the option to refile charges if he is restored to competency in the future.”

In Washington state, defendants who are found incompetent to stand trial after three periods of restorative mental health treatment are directed to undergo a civil commitment evaluation. In Cabello’s case, as someone who has already had inpatient treatment, the commitment can last for up to 72 hours, but evaluators may petition the court indefinitely to extend the commitment for as much as 180 days in between court hearings.

If Cabello is later determined to be fit to stand trial, charges could be refiled regardless of how long he had been in state custody, according to state law.

His latest psychological evaluation, filed in court on Aug. 1, said that Cabello presented with normal speech and thought processes but expressed ongoing grandiose, religious and persecutory beliefs. In particular, he claimed to have started a religion related to devices that capture light in a way that helps individuals see God and angels, and he repeated claims that he had been abused by neighbors, who he believed had been involved in human trafficking and other crimes, according to a licensed psychologist’s report.

Cabello built a sizable social media audience, frequently posting about living with autism that he reported to have and, some said, inspiring others to lead healthier lives. He currently has more than a half-million followers collectively among X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts believed to belong to him.

It was on social media, where neighbors said Cabello disseminated false accusations about them and endangered their lives. Cabello claimed his neighbors made him kill children and were involved in cartel activity and terrorist organizations, charging papers said. He also reportedly filmed neighbors’ homes and yelled at them, and allegedly told a live-stream audience that he’d pay for assassins to kill or hurt one neighbor.

Cabello purportedly targeted authorities, too. He accused Pierce County sheriff’s deputies of covering up human trafficking and said that Prosecuting Attorney’s Office personnel were criminals, accessories and accomplices, charging papers showed.

“It is worth noting that Mr. Cabello may have demonstrated some improvement in his psychiatric condition this restoration period as he has most often refrained from discussing his delusional beliefs with treatment providers,” the most recent psychological evaluation said. “However, it appears that his ability to maintain reality-based discussions is contingent on him not being directly asked about his beliefs related to the allegations against him.”