Boardman man will face competency hearing

BOARDMAN — A mental competency hearing is being scheduled for a man facing charges after his mother's body was discovered in her home more than a week after her death.

John Laczko, Philip Bergman's appointed attorney, told Mahoning County Court Judge Joseph M. Houser his client would plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Houser ordered a mental competency evaluation before the case would continue.

Bergman, 45, was back in court this morning for the abuse of a corpse charge related to the death of his mother Jacqueline Bergman, who's body was discovered May 3.

Bergman previously a bond hearing last week for the failure to report a death charge.

Bergman was charged after police discovered the decomposing body of his mother, who had been dead for more than a week, according to Mahoning County forensic pathologist Dr. Joseph Ohr.