Updated

A Dallas man with ties to the hacking group Anonymous has been declared mentally competent to stand trial on three separate federal indictments.

Barrett Lancaster Brown on Wednesday answered U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay's questions during a hearing to determine his mental competency. Brown's attorney, Doug Morris, said his client's mental state had greatly improved since he was detained last year.

Lindsay declared the 31-year-old Brown competent and set trial dates on the three indictments.

Brown has previously acted as a de facto spokesman for the group. He was first charged in October with making Internet threats and retaliating against law enforcement in YouTube videos he posted.

Two later indictments accuse Brown of making public an Internet link with access to stolen credit card information and concealing evidence.