« Ind. Law - "Spotlight on same-sex marriage ban" | Main | Ind. Gov't. - Another State of Indiana web site hacked; 71,000 Social Security numbers accessed »

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Ind. Courts - Woman continues to disrupt hearing

Kate Braser of the Evansville Courier & Press reports today:

A Vanderburgh Circuit Court magistrate will try for a third time today to advise a woman of the charges she faces after allegedly trespassing into her child's classroom.

Sarah Essett of 2230 Ponderosa Place faces preliminary charges of Class D felony battery and Class D felony trespassing for the incident at Caze Elementary, but so far Vanderburgh Circuit Court Magistrate David Kiely has been unable to formally read through the charges because of Essett's behavior in court.

On Thursday, Essett called Kiely "Chicken Little" and acted like a chicken, squawking and flapping her arms. Kiely ordered her held without bond over the weekend until he could appoint her an attorney.

On Tuesday, Essett appeared in court again, but refused to sit down, complaining repeatedly of a sore throat and a medical emergency. * * *

Her appointed attorney, Cole Banks, told Kiely he'd been unsuccessful in speaking with Essett prior to the court appearance. Banks said he tried to talk with Essett, but she continuously complained of a "medical emergency."

"I don't know that she is going to be willing to sit down or go through any of this," Banks said as Essett stood beside him.

Banks requested that Essett be examined by a psychiatrist for competency to stand trial and to determine whether she was sane at the time of the alleged crime.

Kiely ordered that Essett continue to be held without bond. He asked Banks to try and get Essett to sign a waiver allowing a psychiatric evaluation. Kiely also inquired about Essett's psychiatric history.

"Does she have a guardian?" he asked.

A Department of Children and Family Services caseworker at the hearing said she is unaware of a guardian for Essett.

"She's been on her own," the woman said of Essett.

Essett appears in court again this afternoon to determine whether she will be evaluated and so Kiely can again try to advise Essett of the charges.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 21, 2007 08:07 AM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions