Mental evaluation ordered for man in junior-high case
Posted on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/62877/
BENTONVILLE — A Missouri man who was dressed only in his underwear at Oakdale Junior High School in Rogers will be sent to the State Hospital in Little Rock for a mental evaluation.
Freddie Eugene Philpott, 52, of Washburn, Mo., was arrested May 9 after sitting in his Jeep in a field near the school, wearing nothing but a pair of underwear and offering a student $ 20 to come with him to Missouri.
Philpott was arrested for aggravated assault, loitering and endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree.
Philpott’s attorney, John Mikesch, filed a motion seeking to have Philpott released from the Benton County Jail and transferred to a mental-health facility in Nixa, Mo.
Chief Deputy Shane Wilkinson wanted Philpott to be evaluated at the State Hospital before agreeing to Mikesch’s motion.
Circuit Judge Tom Keith signed an order Tuesday sending Philpott to the State Hospital.
Mikesch said Philpott has a history of mental illness and has been declared a disabled and incapacitated person by the 39 th Judicial Circuit Court in Cassville, Mo. Philpott has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type; substance abuse; mixed personality disorder; and an additional undiagnosed psychosis, according to court documents. Philpott is also described as mildly mentally retarded with a learning disability, court documents state.
Philpott has no felony criminal history, Mikesch said.
Mikesch said the Nixa facility has a place for Philpott.
Mikesch hopes the case can be resolved once the mental evaluation is completed.
“ He’s mentally ill, ” Mikesch said. “ He doesn’t need to be up here. ”
The judge scheduled a status hearing in the case for Aug. 11.
Philpott is being held in the Benton County Jail in lieu of $ 50, 000 bond.