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NEW YORK — <\/span>The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch is mentally competent to stand trial as he faces sex trafficking charges<\/a> after being hospitalized for months<\/a> for dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms, a federal judge ruled.<\/p>\n U.S. District Court Judge Nusrat Choudhury, in her Thursday decision, concluded that Michael Jeffries \u201cclearly possesses a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings\u201d and is a \u201creasonably intelligent person and skilled communicator” following his stay at a federal prison hospital in Butner, North Carolina. <\/p>\n The federal judge on Long Island, New York, said she reviewed testimony and written reports from medical experts and listened to hours of phone calls Jeffries made to his romantic partner, lawyers and others while in custody.<\/p>\n \u201cHis presentation and responses in evaluations following his commitment to Butner and his phone calls show that he understands the structure of the criminal legal system, courtroom procedures, the functions of the various participants, the nature and purpose of the proceedings, and key legal concepts,\u201d Choudhury wrote.<\/p>\n Jeffries\u2019 lawyer declined to comment. <\/p>\n \u201cWe do not comment on the Judge\u2019s rulings,” Brian Bieber wrote in an email. \u201cThe case, and all related issues, will be tried inside the courtroom \u2013 not in the media.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeffries, 82, is currently free on bond. He’s slated to go on trial in late October, alongside two co-defendants, his partner Matthew Smith and staffer James Jacobson. A pretrial hearing is slated for next Thursday. <\/p>\n Jeffries\u2019 lawyers had argued that he required around-the-clock care to deal with the effects of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, Lewy body dementia and a traumatic brain injury. They had medical experts testify in court that Jeffries\u2019 cognitive issues were \u201cprogressive and incurable\u201d and that he would not \u201cregain his competency.\u201d <\/p>\n That prompted Choudhury to order Jeffries to be hospitalized<\/a> to see if his mental condition would improve. After spending about four months at Butner, federal prison officials in December deemed Jeffries mentally fit<\/a> to stand trial. <\/p>\n Jeffries, Smith and Jacobson have pleaded not guilty<\/a> to federal charges, including sex trafficking and interstate prostitution. <\/p>\n Prosecutors say the three used the promise of modeling jobs to lure men to drug-fueled sex parties in New York City, the Hamptons and other locations. The criminal case echoes sexual misconduct accusations made in a civil case<\/a> and in the media in recent years.<\/p>\n