Defense claims teen competent

FLORENCE, S.C. --- A South Carolina teenager charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction to blow up his high school doesn't need further mental evaluation, attorneys for Ryan Schallenberger argued Monday.

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Associated Press

Ryan Schallenberger: Teenager has been charged with plotting to use a weapon of mass destruction at his school.

"There's been no bizarre behavior that this defendant has evidenced since he has been in any procedure," federal public defender Bill Nettles told U.S. Magistrate Thomas Rogers III, who did not immediately rule.

"We submit to you that there is no reasonable cause to even hold a competency hearing in this case," Mr. Nettles said.

Mr. Schallenberger, who is being held in the local jail, attended the hearing wearing shackles and an orange jumpsuit but did not speak.

The teenager was arrested April 19 after his parents picked up a package addressed to the teen containing 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate. Police said the parents also found a cassette tape he wanted played after he died in the assault he planned on Chesterfield High School.

The straight-A student faces several state and federal charges, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. A federal agent testified last week that Mr. Schallenberger told police he wanted to die, go to heaven and kill Jesus.

Last week, a judge granted prosecutors' request that Mr. Schallenberger be evaluated at a federal prison facility, a process that can take up to 45 days. Mr. Schallenberger's attorneys objected, arguing that a state-certified psychiatrist hired by the defense met with the teen last week and deemed him competent to stand trial.

"We're saying our client is competent, and we've gone the extra mile," Mr. Nettles argued.

The attorney did not give any other reasons for why the defense is opposed to the evaluation.

In response, prosecutor Buddy Bethea argued Monday that the defense's expert only met with Mr. Schallenberger for a few hours -- not enough time to get a full understanding of the teen's mental state.

A federal facility in Butner, N.C., has already agreed to evaluate Mr. Schallenberger and can begin that process at any time, Mr. Bethea said.

While he did not rule immediately, Magistrate Rogers did grant a request by Mr. Schallenberger's attorneys to delay any further evaluation, pending an appeal defense attorneys have pledged to file.