Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Teen to use insanity defense
By Janie Southard
WAPAKONETA - The St. Marys teen who allegedly left a bomb at a gasoline station in St. Marys was arraigned in Auglaize County Common Pleas Court on Monday morning.
Jesse B. McDermitt, 18, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to all six felony charges against him and was represented by his court-appointed attorney Mark Weller of Wapakoneta.
Judge Frederick Pepple granted a stay of court proceedings to allow time for McDermitt to have mental competency evaluations at a forensic hospital in Dayton.
Brought to the Auglaize County court from the Ohio Department of Youth Services in Circleville by law enforcement officers, the St. Marys man sat quietly in the courtroom with no family or friend there in support. Only court officials and news media attended the arraignment.
In May he was indicted by an Auglaize County grand jury on two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, fourth-degree felonies; two counts of unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance, both fifth-degree felonies; and two counts of inducing panic, fourth- and fifth-degree felonies. If convicted, he could face a maximum of 71/2 years and a $22,500 fine.
McDermitt was arrested for allegedly planting a homemade bomb in December at a gas station less than a block west of Memorial High School, which went into a temporary lockdown.
When arrested in December at his Townview Terrace Apartment home, he was wearing a second homemade bomb, which reportedly fell from his shirt during a search by police. Both bombs found that day were dismantled and safely detonated by the Lima Bomb Squad.
McDermitt had been arrested in 2006 for taking shotgun shells, a gas mask and knives as well as a homemade explosive device to his school in Wapakoneta.
At that time he told police he was being harassed by other students. He was charged with 10 crimes and was sentenced to 21/2 years in juvenile detention.
