Its a Weird and Crazy World

Lawyer: SC teen accused in bomb plot doesn’t need evaluation

The teenager was arrested April 19 after his parents picked up a package addressed to the teen containing 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate. Police said the parents also found a cassette tape he wanted played after he died in the assault he planned on Chesterfield High School.

The straight-A student faces several state and federal charges, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. A federal agent testified last week Schallenberger told police he wanted to die, go to heaven and kill Jesus.

Last week, a judge granted prosecutors’ request that Schallenberger be evaluated at a federal prison facility, a process that can take up to 45 days. Schallenberger’s attorneys objected, arguing that a state-certified psychiatrist hired by the defense met with the teen last week and deemed him competent to stand trial.

“We’re saying our client is competent, and we’ve gone the extra mile,” Nettles argued. The attorney did not give any other reasons for why the defense is opposed to the evaluation.

In response, prosecutor Buddy Bethea argued Monday that the defense’s expert only met with Schallenberger for a few hours - not enough time to get a full understanding of the teen’s mental state.

“All of a sudden, they go out and get their own psychiatrist, who did a two-hour interview,” Bethea argued. “We’re entitled to have him sent off for our own evaluation.”
Ether he is crazy or very, very stupid and apparently so is his attorney.