Hutchinson ? A judge has ruled that former Arlington City Council member Shane Zink is competent to stand trial on charges that he molested a 7-year-old girl and took sexually explicit pictures of her.

Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville ruled Wednesday that an evaluation at Larned state hospital found the 36-year-old Zink was competent.

Zink’s attorney, Mark Schoenhofer, had previously told the judge he was unable to effectively communicate with Zink, who appeared to be suffering from depression.

The Hutchinson News reports that Zink remains in Reno County jail on $450,000 bond. He faces life in prison if convicted of 14 charges against him.

Zink was arrested last April after officers searched his home.