HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 35-year-old Hutchinson man arrested in April of last year was bound over on additional charges Wednesday after Judge Joe McCarville earlier found him to be competent to stand trial.
Jeremy Johnson of 2214 East 4th, Lot 100, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer and one count of battery of a law enforcement officer for an incident inside the Reno County Jail that resulted in an officer getting injured. The alleged incident occurring back on July 18, 2013.
The defense had requested an evaluation and that was done at Horizon’s Mental Health Center in Hutchinson and they found him incompetent, so he was sent to Larned for further test. They apparently didn’t actually do an evaluation, but did observe him and advised jail staff of his incidents of manipulative behavior. Jail staff testified at the earlier hearing that there was no indication while in the jail that he had any problem communicating with staff or other inmates and understood the pending charges and what would happen in various court hearings.
After hearing that information, Barb Gambosi with Horizon’s changed her diagnosis for Johnson and found that he was competent. She had based her findings on information given to her by Johnson that were not true. He has been diagnosed with anti-social personality disorder and in Judge McCarville’s written opinion, the pattern of lying, cheating and manipulation is consistent with that disorder. Judge McCarville says that he has been competent for the last six months.
This case against Johnson will move to arraignment next month.
He also has another case pending trial after Hutchinson Police Officer Lance Hirt responded to a suspicious activity call in the 900 block of West 4th, back in April of last year.
Johnson was reportedly acting bizarre according to witnesses. A small plastic baggy that field tested positive for meth was found where he had been. A blue coat he was wearing apparently had two metal pipes with burnt marijuana residue and two q-tips with possible meth residue.
He was also allegedly driving a maroon Mercury Marquis which was also located at the scene. It was allegedly stolen from Wichita.
Johnson is no stranger to the court system with prior convictions that go back to 2002 where he was convicted of being in possession of precursors for making meth such as ephedrine. But other convictions include forgery, making false writing, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft, obstruction, attempted flee and elude, driving while suspended and reckless driving.