U.S. District Court Judge Thomas E. Rogers has ordered the Mount Croghan teen accused of plotting a suicide bombing at Chesterfield High School in April to undergo a mental evaluation, according to a ruling handed down Monday.
The decision to order Ryan Schallenberger, 18, to undergo an evaluation was based on the teen referring to himself as God and expressing his desire to go heaven and kill Jesus, Rogers said in the order.
Rogers said Schallenberger’s statements and other evidence presented earlier “clearly raises concerns regarding his competency.”
Federal public defender Mike Meetze, who is representing the teen, said Rogers’ order was just handed down and that he and Bill Nettles, Schallenberger’s other attorney, haven’t decided if they will object to the decision.
Schallenberger is charged in a three-count indictment, handed down May 27, with:
- Receiving and attempting to receive an explosive with the knowledge and intent that it would be used to kill, injure or intimidate an individual and damage and destroy a building, vehicle or other real and personal property. If convicted of this charge, he faces a maximum possible prison term of 10 years.
- Attempting to damage and destroy real property owned, possessed or leased to Chesterfield High School and the Chesterfield County School District, by means of a fire and an explosive. This crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum possible term of 20 years.
- Possessing an unregistered destructive device. If convicted of this charge, he faces a maximum possible prison term of 10 years.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rose Mary Parham and Buddy Bethea, who are prosecuting the case, filed a motion to have Schallenberger evaluated in April after his attorneys did not do so.
Parham said prosecutors filed the motion to protect the case from any errors that could be made later.
Schallenberger’s journals and calls made by his mother and stepfather to E-911 on April 17 and 19 all reflected that he was a very angry man who intended to take his own life and the lives of others, Parham said in an earlier interview.
Rogers issued an order for Schallenberger to undergo a psychiatric examination April 30, but the defense filed a motion for the Rogers to reconsider his decision.
The defense submitted with the motion an affidavit of a psychiatrist who found Schallenberger competent to stand trial.
Schallenberger will not be sent for an evaluation for 10 days to allow time for the lawyers in the case to file objections, according to the order.
If objections are filed, Schallenberger won’t undergo the evaluation until further order of a district judge.
Schallenberger also is charged by the state with possession of incendiary devices. If convicted of that crime, he faces two to 15 years in prison.
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