ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) — A judge has ordered a mental competency hearing for a 21-year-old Kalama, Wash., man accused of fatally shooting the Rainier, Ore., police chief.
Lawyers for Daniel Butts told Circuit Court Judge Ted Grove their client is mentally impaired and doesn’t understand the charges against him. They say he’s had trouble in the Columbia County Jail and officials there have used a stun gun on him.
The Daily News of Longview says Butts made no comment at Wednesday’s hearing, a contrast to behavior that disrupted an attempted arraignment on Jan. 26. That court session was halted after Butts interrupted the reading of the charges and disagreed with his lawyers.
Butts is charged with aggravated murder and related counts in the Jan. 5 death of Chief Ralph Painter. The chief was shot after responding to a suspicious person call at a stereo shop.
If convicted of aggravated murder, Butts could face the death penalty if prosecutors choose to seek it.
