Court orders mental evaluation for Coonrod
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
In routine proceedings leading up to the "written in stone" October trial date, defense attorneys and prosecutors met in Highland County Common Pleas Court for a pretrial hearing in the capital murder case of Wesley Coonrod, and discussed access to the crime scene and a mental evaluation.
Coonrod is facing is facing two counts of aggravated murder, stemming from the March death of his two young sons in a fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield.
During the pretrial hearing June 2, presiding Judge Rocky Coss addressed a motion by the defense requesting appointment of an independent forensic investigating firm and access to 150 A Lafayette St. in Greenfield - the location of the fire that claimed the lives of his two sons, Thomas Coonrod, 4, and Stephen Coonrod, 3.
William J. Mooney and Jerry L. McHenry, of the Ohio Public Defender's Office are representing Coonrod. The state is represented by the Highland County Prosecutor's Office.
Mooney said that the forensic firm "would be, for our purposes, regarding arson issues. It is our believe they would be able to identify and assist us in issues we know to exist in the case."
The state did not object to the request, and the court granted the motion.
The court approved the motion for the investigator to view the address where the alleged crimes took place on the condition the property owner - who "is not a party in the case," according to Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey - be contacted and specific dates be set up.
Coss said that on those dates "someone from the state should be there to observe but not interfere," and that all inspections by the expert at that location be completed by June 30. It was also ordered that all motions for discovery be filed by June 30. He also ordered that all other motions be filed by July 15, though he noted that if issues arise after that date the court would address them.
"We want to keep things moving," Coss said. "The October trial date is set in stone."
The court also ordered a competency evaluation, although one has not been requested by either the prosecution or the defense.
"In a case of this nature ... the court feels that it is necessary there be some affirmative statement on the record there is no problem with the defendant's capacity at this point. I will say for the record there has been nothing raised officially by anybody, but it is a concern of this court that in a case of this nature that there be some decision. It is my feeling we should have an evaluation."
Coss appointed a forensic center in Butler County to evaluate Coonrod, and set it for hearing at the next pretrial.
In other business, Coss said that two search warrants were executed in March, one for the Lafeytte Street property, and one for "samples" from Coonrod.
"At this point there have been no motions filed, but I would like to have either a motion if you are going to file one or something affirmatively in writing stating it has been determined by the defense there will be no motion filed because either you don't think there is a basis for it or it is your determination it is not going to be part of your trial strategy."
Coss also said that "in this situation where the ultimate penalty is at issue" there should be discussion regarding "stipulations" prior to trial, and it will be further addressed at the next pretrial, scheduled for July 22 at 1:30 p.m.
In routine proceedings leading up to the "written in stone" October trial date, defense attorneys and prosecutors met in Highland County Common Pleas Court for a pretrial hearing in the capital murder case of Wesley Coonrod, and discussed access to the crime scene and a mental evaluation.
Coonrod is facing two counts of aggravated murder, stemming from the March death of his two young sons in a fire on Lafayette Street in Greenfield.
During the pretrial hearing June 2, presiding Judge Rocky Coss addressed a motion by the defense requesting appointment of an independent forensic investigating firm and access to 150 A Lafayette St. in Greenfield - the location of the fire that claimed the lives of his two sons, Thomas Coonrod, 4, and Stephen Coonrod, 3.
William J. Mooney and Jerry L. McHenry, of the Ohio Public Defender's Office are representing Coonrod. The state is represented by the Highland County Prosecutor's Office.
Mooney said that the forensic firm "would be, for our purposes, regarding arson issues. It is our belief they would be able to identify and assist us in issues we know to exist in the case."
The state did not object to the request, and the court granted the motion.
The court approved the motion for the investigator to view the address where the alleged crimes took place on the condition the property owner - who "is not a party in the case," according to Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey - be contacted and specific dates be set up.
Coss said that on those dates "someone from the state should be there to observe but not interfere," and that all inspections by the expert at that location be completed by June 30. It was also ordered that all motions for discovery be filed by June 30. He also ordered that all other motions be filed by July 15, though he noted that if issues arise after that date the court would address them.
"We want to keep things moving," Coss said. "The October trial date is set in stone."
The court also ordered a competency evaluation, although one has not been requested by either the prosecution or the defense.
"In a case of this nature ... the court feels that it is necessary there be some affirmative statement on the record there is no problem with the defendant's capacity at this point. I will say for the record there has been nothing raised officially by anybody, but it is a concern of this court that in a case of this nature that there be some decision. It is my feeling we should have an evaluation."
Coss appointed a forensic center in Butler County to evaluate Coonrod, and set it for hearing at the next pretrial.
In other business, Coss said that two search warrants were executed in March, one for the Lafayette Street property, and one for "samples" from Coonrod.
"At this point there have been no motions filed, but I would like to have either a motion if you are going to file one or something affirmatively in writing stating it has been determined by the defense there will be no motion filed because either you don't think there is a basis for it or it is your determination it is not going to be part of your trial strategy."
Coss also said that "in this situation where the ultimate penalty is at issue" there should be discussion regarding "stipulations" prior to trial, and it will be further addressed at the next pretrial, scheduled for July 22 at 1:30 p.m.