The defense for a 21-year-old Clinton, Iowa man charged in Reno County with electronic solicitation of child wants her client to receive a mental evaluation.

Clarence R. Eade was arrested back in early May on a Reno County warrant and was brought to Hutchinson on the allegation that he made contact with a 15-year-old girl by e-mail and texting with the hopes of convincing the child to have an unlawful sexual relationship with him.

But, now the defense believes he may not be competent to stand trial. Kelly Driscoll with the Regional Public Defenders Office filed a motion late last month stating that Eade may be suffering from mental illness or defect and that he may not be competent enough to understand the proceedings surrounding the charges against him.

Judge Joe McCarville set a hearing on the matter for Wednesday afternoon to determine what action if any needs to be taken.

The case itself surrounds the two meeting on Facebook, and the mother of the girl found out and put a stop to that, but then the two began texting. The mother found out and contacted police. Police then set it up so that Eade thought he was still texting the girl, but in fact was texting with Hutchinson Police Detective Scott Carlton. He allegedly sent Carlton photos of himself during their texting over a 3-months or more period. He then indicated all the things he wanted to do. Carlton says after confirming who the individual was, he sent a report to the D-A’s office leading to a warrant for his arrest.

The complaint indicates a date of March 16, of last year, for the contact with the 15-year-old, but Carlton indicated that his contact with Eade occurred during the summer months of last year.

Again, a hearing over competence is scheduled for Wednesday.