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Lawyers for murder suspect file insanity plea
YOUNGSTOWN
Lawyers for a man charged with killing one woman and trying to kill another woman last November at a Cleveland Avenue home, which he’s accused of setting afire, have entered an insanity plea on his behalf.
Defense lawyers Louis M. DeFabio and Lynn Maro entered the plea of innocent by reason of insanity Thursday on behalf of Lance Hundley, 46, of Washington Street, Warren, or Cleveland Avenue, Youngstown, in Hundley’s capital-murder case.
Hundley is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Erica Huff, 41, who had been a part-time Mahoning County auto-title clerk, and with attempted murder and felonious assault against Denise Johnson, together with two counts of aggravated arson.
The death-penalty specification on the indictment says Hundley killed Huff while trying to kill Johnson.
In court documents, DeFabio and Maro told Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court the insanity-plea filing is based on their confidential discussions with Hundley and other information they received, which led them to believe that Hundley’s “mental faculties might become an issue in this case.”
Hundley earlier had entered an innocent plea at his arraignment.
The defense lawyers moved for a psychological evaluation of Hundley’s sanity at the time of the purported offenses and of his competency to stand trial.
“Try not to give them too much of a hard time. They’re doing the best they can,” Judge Sweeney told Hundley, referring to his defense lawyers.
During a brief pretrial hearing, Judge Sweeney told Hundley a psychiatrist or psychologist, or both, likely would visit him to speak with him soon.
“Make sure you cooperate with them, too,” the judge told Hundley, who is in the county jail without bond.
Hundley signed a limited waiver of his speedy-trial rights that gives the prosecution until Aug. 30 to bring him to trial, but the court’s website shows no scheduled trial date.
The prosecution shared with the defense Thursday CDs containing crime-scene and autopsy photos, 16 pages of coroner’s office records, including the autopsy report, and 327 pages of Johnson’s medical records.
Prosecutors do not yet have DNA test results or other test results from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation concerning evidence in this case, said Martin P. Desmond, an assistant county prosecutor.
Items of evidence taken by State Fire Marshal’s Office arson investigators will be sent to BCI in two days, he said.
The prosecution soon will compile an inventory of items found in Hundley’s vehicle, which was towed from the crime scene, he added.
The next pretrial hearing in Hundley’s case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 10.