Gerard v. State

On November 3, 1969, Frank Gerard was charged with first degree murder of Ronald Jones. He waived preliminary hearing and at arraignment before the district court with appointed counsel pleaded not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the commission of the alleged offense, and not triable by reason of present insanity. He was ordered by the court to be sent to the Wyoming State Hospital for examination and evaluation. On December 15, 1969, that hospitals associate superintendent, Dr. Charles J. Katz, informed the court that Gerard was then psychotic, was psychotic at the time of the commission of the alleged offense, and was unable to assist counsel in the preparation of his defense. He further reported that the examination had been completed and that Gerard would be released "by complete discharge as with psychosis ? insane and returned to the jurisdiction of the court." In a December 22, 1969, amplification - Page 100 of the December 15 report, Dr. Katz stated, Frank Gerard is dangerous; he may be properly classified psychiatrically in the group of psychotic disorders as: Other paranoid state, 297.9. His illness is chronic, resistant to treatment, and prone to become more fixed and inclusive."