Ellenberger's lawyers plan insanity defense
The defense attorneys for a Chicora man accused of shooting and nearly killing a man informed a Butler County judge Tuesday they intend to file an insanity or mental infirmity defense in the defendant's upcoming trial.
Gary. D. Ellenberger is being held in jail on charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, recklessly endangering another person and illegal offensive weapons for the alleged shooting of a 27-year-old Karns City man at a Chicora bar last fall.
Heath Schrecengost was shot in the torso Sept. 2, 2018, during an incident at Millerstown Inn on Main Street. The announcement of an insanity defense from Ellenberger's lawyer, Charles Nedz, was made before Judge Timothy McCune and comes after the completion of a months-long evaluation of Ellenberger.
The confidential evaluation by Dr. Bruce Wright, a Pittsburgh-based psychiatrist, is being paid for by the state at a rate of $300 per hour with a maximum cap of $2,500. But Wright apparently worked overtime, Nedz said, and requested the state pay an additional $2,100. McCune permitted the extra payment.
In previous interviews, Nedz said Ellenberger has a long history of psychiatric issues.
“The defendant suffers from a schizoaffective disorder ... a question exists as to whether the defendant understood the nature and quality of his actions,” Nedz wrote in earlier court filings requesting that Wright evaluate Ellenberger.
According to witnesses interviewed by police after the shooting at Millerstown Inn, Ellenberger didn't know the victim, and the random act of violence raised questions for Nedz about Ellenberger's mental state.
In response to Wright's evaluation, prosecutors Tuesday requested that McCune allow them to hire their own medical professional to evaluate Ellenberger. Nedz didn't object to the request, but asked that the information not be used to attack Ellenberger during his trial. He asked that it only be used to counter Wright's evaluation.
McCune will make a determination after a hearing later this month to discuss the evaluation and insanity defense notice in further detail.
