By: Lori Pilger
Source: Lincoln Journal Star, Neb. (TNS)
A Lancaster County judge has been asked to find a Lincoln man not guilty by reason of insanity for smashing several vehicles, a liquor store and an ATM with a skid-steer loader in January.
Samuel Peyrot’s public defender, Amanda Baskin, filed notice of an intent to raise the insanity defense in July.
At a bench trial Tuesday, with Peyrot at her side, Baskin offered a 14-page insanity evaluation, where Dr. Matthew Huss said in his opinion Peyrot was insane at the time, which under Nebraska law means he did not know or understand the nature and consequences of his actions or the difference between right and wrong.
All of the evidence came in the form of exhibits, which weren’t immediately available for review.
“We are respectfully asking the court to conclude that Mr. Peyrot should be acquitted of the crimes that he’s currently facing on the basis that he was not responsible by reason of insanity based on the evaluation,” Baskin said.
Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Eric Miller didn’t dispute Huss’ findings, making it likely that Lancaster County District Judge Darla Ideus will find Peyrot not responsible by reason of insanity in November, when they are set to return to court for the verdict.
If that happens, the judge can order him to be treated at the Lincoln Regional Center.
For now, Peyrot, 36, is accused of seven felonies—second-degree assault on an officer, second-degree assault and five counts criminal mischief—for the Jan. 14 incident, captured in store security footage and on cellphone videos that went viral.
Police say Peyrot unloaded his employer’s Bobcat at the U-Stop near 73rd Street and Pine Lake Road, knocked down a clothing donation box, then struck his employer’s pickup.
He continued on to the nearby Taco Bell, ramming four vehicles, before going to the Home Depot, where he crashed into more vehicles, including one with a driver inside, an ATM and the doors of The Still.
Peyrot ultimately rammed a responding officer’s cruiser several times with the officer inside. The officer got out and held Peyrot at gunpoint as more officers arrived and arrested him.
Police initially suspected Peyrot was under the influence of drugs, “due to his erratic behavior and nonsensical statements,” according to court records.
After his arrest, his girlfriend told KETV that he had been treated at a Lincoln hospital earlier in the day and released. She believed he was delusional, caused by prescription drugs and four days of no sleep due to his job removing snow as a contractor.
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