Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Township standoff defendant found competent again

Criminal responsibility still to be determined

BESSEMER — The case against an Ironwood Township man accused of being involved in a standoff with police in May 2017 may be proceeding, after he was recently found to be competent again.

While Leonard John Hellier, 48, was recently found competent to stand trial, Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs said it still needed to be determined whether he bore criminal responsibility for his actions.

Competency and criminal responsibility are the two prongs of an insanity defense, according to Michigan law.

Competency determines whether the defendant is able to stand trial and assist with their...

 
 
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