Monday, March 09, 2009

New mental evaluation ordered for Memorial Middle School shooter


Judge David Mouton signed an order today for a new mental evaluation for Memorial Middle School shooter Thomas Gregory White.

The order came after the Jasper County prosecuting attorney's office filed a motion Friday asking for a new evaluation, indicating that the report filed in late February under seal in Jasper County Circuit Court was more favorable to White's defense.

Shortly after Mouton issued his order, White's public defender, Brett Meeker, filed a motion to set aside the order.

White, 16, has been behind bars since October 2006, when he took an assault weapon into Memorial Middle School, fired it into the ceiling, and then pointed it at Principal Steve Gilbreth and tried to pull the trigger, according to police. Gilbreth was saved when the trigger jammed, the police said.

White is charged with two counts of assault, and single counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and attempted escape.

He was initially charged as an adult and most of the two years and five months since White's arrest has been spent in attempts to have the case transferred from adult to juvenile court.

As usual, Judge Mouton has been receiving letters from out-of-state interests decrying White's "treatment" at the hands of the judge and the prosecutors.

(Photo by Ron Graber)

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