FLORENCE — A judge has again delayed the trial of Ryan Schallenberger, who is accused of accused of plotting a suicide bombing at Chesterfield High School in April.
U.S. District Judge Bryan Harwell on Monday granted a second request from prosecutors and attorneys for Schallenberger to delay the 18-year-old’s trial until at least March.
Schallenberger’s attorneys requested more time to confer with their client after several months of psychiatric evaluation. Pretrial arguments had been set for next month.
Schallenberger was arrested in April after police say his parents picked up a package addressed to him containing ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer used as in the deadly Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
After authorities were alerted, deputies searched Schallenberger’s home and seized several items, including a hate-filled journal lauding the Columbine killers and an audiotape he left to be played after his death.
U.S. District Court Judge Thomas E. Rogers ordered the Mount Croghan teen to undergo a mental evaluation in August. The decision was based on Schallenberger 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.”
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.
Schallenberger has pleaded not guilty.
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.
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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