ST. HELENS, Ore. (AP) — An arraignment for the 21-year-old man charged with aggravated murder in the Jan. 5 fatal shooting of the Rainier, Ore., police chief was called off after Daniel Butts angrily interrupted his lawyers in court.
The defense lawyers told a Columbia County judge on Wednesday they weren’t sure Butts was competent to enter a plea.
The Kalama, Wash., man is charged with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, robbery, burglary, theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle and recklessly endangering another person. If convicted of aggravated murder, Butts could face the death penalty if prosecutors choose to seek it in the death of Chief Ralph Painter.
Painter was shot after responding to a suspicious person call at a car stereo shop.
