Gary Ellenberger, 56, is charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment, according to records kept by the Butler County Prison.

A Butler judge found a psychiatric evaluation to be “woefully inadequate” in establishing a Chicora man's insanity defense against charges of attempted homicide.

Gary Ellenberger, 57, doesn't remember allegedly shooting Heath Schrecengost unprovoked on Sept. 2, 2018 at Millerstown Inn on Main Street, according to his lawyer, public defender Charles Nedz, who argued that his client was not in a clear state of mind at the time of the shooting.

He requested Monday that Judge Timothy McCune allow him to establish a mental insanity defense and to call a psychiatrist who evaluated Ellenberger. Assistant District Attorney Ben Simone countered that the evaluation is vague, and he asked McCune to deem the psychiatrist as inadmissible.

McCune said he would most likely decide in favor of prosecutors, but added he would make a final decision later.

This is an excerpt — subscribe online or in print to read the full article in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.