Black said an 11-page report by a forensic psychologist states that Hoyt is able to make rational decisions, comprehend the trial process and assist in his defense, so he declared him competent to stand trial. He acknowledged Hoyt has a serious mental illness, but he is in “remission” while he is on medication. Hoyt was indicted in January and sent to a federal medical center in Massachusetts for a mental evaluation and treatment.
Once declared competent, Hoyt pleaded not guilty to charges he threatened to kill Boehner by shooting him or poisoning his cocktails while he was a bartender at Wetherington Golf & Country Club in West Chester Twp., where Boehner is a member.
Hoyt allegedly called 911 on Oct. 29, and after a strange comment about apologizing to his father, Deer Park police responded to his home, where he allegedly confessed.
“Hoyt told the officer that he was Jesus Christ, and that he was going to kill Boehner because Boehner was mean to him at the country club, and because Boehner is responsible for Ebola,” United States Capitol Police Special Agent Christopher Desrosiers wrote in the complaint. “Hoyt advised he had a loaded Beretta .380 automatic, and he was going to shoot Boehner and take off.”
Hoyt voluntarily went to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and he was placed on a 72-hour hold in the psychiatric ward. While there, he allegedly told officials that he regretted that “he did not have time to put something in John Boehner’s drink.”
Hoyt’s attorney Marty Pinales said he filed a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity defense later on Wednesday. He told the judge he has received voluminous discovery from Grimes and at least three issues — including one involving HIPPA — will require extensive research. He asked the judge for four weeks to file his motion to suppress, which would be an extension of normal motion rules.
The extension of time would bump up to the speedy trial requirement of 70 days. Black asked the U.S. attorney if she would agree to a speedy trial waiver.
“It’s your gig on speedy trial, are you comfortable with that?” Black asked Grimes.
She agreed so now the trial is expected to start in August rather than July.
After the brief hearing, Pinalessaid this is a “fascinating” case that showcases issues between mental illness and the law. That his client was found competent to stand trial has no bearing on his state of mind at the time of the alleged crime, he said.
“Being competent is saying you’re competent now to stand trial, that you know who the judge is and you can work with your lawyers. That is now,” he said. “Not guilty by reason of insanity is a snapshot, it is a snapshot of the mind at the time of the offense. It doesn’t go before, and it doesn’t go after. It’s just a click of a camera.”
Charlie Rittgers knows all too well how difficult it is to win an insanity defense. He and his dad, Charlie H. Rittgers, argued an insanity defense for former Mason gym teacher Stacy Schuler who was found guilty of supplying five students with alcohol and having sex with them on multiple occasions in her Springboro home in fall 2010.
“In any criminal case, the prosecution has the burden of proving the facts beyond reasonable doubt,” he said. “But a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, just like other affirmative defenses like self defense, if the prosecutor meets their burden beyond reasonable doubt on the facts, the burden then shifts to the defense to prove the defendant was insane at the time.”
Grimes had no comment.
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