|
|
Published May 23, 2008 07:48 pm - An attorney for 15-year-old Thomas White announced Friday that she will be asking a Jasper County judge to send her client to a state mental health center for evaluation of his mental competency to assist in his own defense.
Evaluation sought in school-gun case
By Jeff Lehr
jlehr@joplinglobe.com
An attorney for 15-year-old Thomas White announced Friday that she will be asking a Jasper County judge to send her client to a state mental health center for evaluation of his mental competency to assist in his own defense.
White is accused of taking an assault rifle to Memorial Middle School in Joplin on Oct. 9, 2006, when he was 13, pointing it at some students and teachers, and then at an assistant superintendent, firing it once into a ceiling, and then trying to shoot the principal as he was ushering him out of the building. He has been certified to stand trial as an adult on five felony counts related to the incident.
Public defender Brett Meeker informed Circuit Judge David Mouton and Assistant Prosecutor John Nicholas of her intention to file a motion seeking a mental-health evaluation of White during a private conference in the judge’s chambers before a scheduled hearing in the case Friday in Jasper County Circuit Court.
The judge made the defense’s intention known in open court after the conference in chambers, and set June 13 as the date for hearing arguments on the issue. The judge also expressed a desire to propel the case forward and set temporary dates in December and January for a trial.
“It has been the court’s concern for a long time that this case needs to move ahead,” Mouton said.
The judge set Dec. 8-10 and Jan. 5-7 as possible trial dates in the case.
White has been kept in administrative, segregated confinement at the Jasper County Jail since being certified to stand trail as an adult in December 2006. The teen recently received the court’s approval of educational tutoring while he remains held at the jail on $250,000 bond.
Meeker submitted reports to the judge from a doctor and psychologist who have recently examined White. She is asking that he be transferred to the Western Missouri Mental Health Center in Kansas City for an evaluation on the question of competency to assist in his own defense.
Meeker said after the hearing that, in her opinion, her client’s mental clarity has deteriorated during the course of his incarceration.
“I have concerns about that,” Meeker said. “But, I’ll leave it up to the medical experts whether or not he meets the statutory requirements for assisting in his own defense.”
The defendant’s mother, Norma White, said after the hearing that she supports the request for a mental-health evaluation of her son.
“It’s probably needed at this time,” she said. “Because even an adult would be hard put in a situation like that — a year and a half in solitary confinement. I really believe putting a kid in a situation like that is simply not right. You don’t do that to children.”
She remains convinced that her son is being prosecuted as an adult primarily to set an example of him to others of his age group who might contemplate similar behaviors. She believes that impulse to set an example, and state law on the matter, do not take into full account the differences between juvenile and adult defendants.
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
Announcements



: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:


 |
|
TRUCK DRIVERS NEEDED
for local construction project, must have CDL and experience on construction site belly dumps. 417-206-0930....>MORE
See all ads |
|
1989 CHEVROLET STEPSIDE
350, V8, custom flames, runs great, $2500. 417-208-6717...>MORE
2005 FORD FOCUS
4 cylinder, 5 speed, 134,000 miles, $3495. 417-434-0925...>MORE
1979 SATURN
GOOD Economical car, 1979 Saturn, $2000 firm, cash only. (620)783-1751....>MORE
1999 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED
4x4, leather loaded, $3500. 417-850-0731....>MORE
1998 CHEVROLET S10
4 cylinder, 5 speed, high miles, $1750. 417-214-0022....>MORE
2003 DODGE CARAVAN SPORT
loaded, 1 owner, 94,000 miles, nice. (417)385-7755...>MORE
2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS
4 door, luxury leather trim, loaded, CD, sunroof, beautiful rig, extra nice, $4500. 1317 Schifferdecker...>MORE
1997 OLDSMOBILE 88
runs good, $1900. 417-850-0731....>MORE
1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE
See all ads |
|
525 E. 41ST, JOPLIN, MO
to be sold at auction December 5th or before. Lovely all red brick home on large corner. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, double...>MORE
NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE
3 ACRES
3 ACRES more/less with pond. Nice park-like setting, just minutes from Range Line. Close to area of newer homes. $19,900...>MORE
Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE
See all ads |
|
GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT!
1000 thread 100% Egyptian cotton bed sheets, all sizes, 10 colors, $35/set. (417)782-6639....>MORE
(2) TEACUP CHIHUAHUA
APRI puppies. (417)673-1997....>MORE
YORKIES
12 weeks old, 2 males, AKC, 1st shots, $175. 417-291-6590, Webb City...>MORE
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE
I WANT TO BUY
6’ t-post, 5’ wire. Call for details. (417)396-1339...>MORE
SCHNAUZERS
one white puppy, one registered silver adult female, one white adult male. (417)437-0300....>MORE
MALTESE PUPPIES ADORABLE!!
6 weeks old Thanksgiving. 2 boys and 2 girls. Shots, wormed, and vet checked. Healthy, active, and loved! Great Ch...>MORE
REWARD $50,000 REWARD
Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged ...>MORE
MALTESE PUPPIES
2 gorgeous AKC males, 8 weeks on 11/30, all shots/vaccines, $200 each. 417-325-4340 ...>MORE
ANGUS HEIFERS
6 Augus heifers, good foundation stock. (417)358-7519...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|