A months-long psychiatric evaluation of a 56-year-old Chicora man charged with attempted murder is expected to be complete later this week, according to the defendant's lawyer.

Gary Ellenberger is charged with shooting Heath Schrecengost, 27, of Karns City in the torso at a Chicora bar in September. He has been in Butler County Prison since his arrest at the time.

Since then, the case has stalled as Ellenberger's lawyer, public defender Charles Nedz, awaits the results of a psychiatric evaluation.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, Nedz told Butler County Judge Timothy McCune and Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon that the evaluation is almost complete. Ellenberger, now with a beard and thick-framed black glasses, sat nearby in the jury box during the hearing.

Once Nedz files the report, prosecutors will have a chance to request their own evaluation of Ellenberger. Simon didn't indicate if he would do that.

The evaluation by Dr. Bruce Wright, a Pittsburgh-based M.D., is being paid for by the state at a rate of $300 per hour with a maximum cap of $2,500.

“Dr. (Bruce) Wright reviewed Ellenberger's extensive medical history, his mental history, his criminal history,” Nedz said. “It's taken Dr. Wright longer than usual to complete everything, but we should have a report this week.”

“For several months now, we have been prepared to move forward to trial,” Simon responded.

Nedz said Ellenberger won't be ready for trial until the evaluation was complete.

In previous interviews, Nedz said Ellenberger has a long history of psychiatric issues, and that he plans to build an insanity defense.

In a previous court filing requesting Wright's evaluation, Nedz wrote, “the defendant suffers from a schizoaffective disorder ... a question exists as to whether the defendant understood the nature and quality of his actions.”

According to people interviewed by police who witnessed the shooting, Ellenberger didn't know the victim and the random act of violence raised questions for Nedz about Ellenberger's mental state.

McCune scheduled another court appearance on Sept. 10, “so that the case doesn't get lost.”