Attorney for man accused in 2 deaths asks for mental evaluation
Legal counsel for a mail carrier facing charges in the pre- Christmas killing of his supervisor and the Dublin postmaster asked Tuesday for an evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.
Federal Public Defender Deborah L. Williams made the request verbally, with plans for a subsequent formal filing, during Deshaune K. Stewart’s initial appearance in U. S. District Court in Columbus.
Stewart, shackled and wearing jailhouse attire, said little during the short hearing, which sets the stage for coming legal proceedings on two counts of murder of federal employees.
Witnesses say Stewart was naked when he entered the Emerald Parkway post office in Dublin just before 4: 30 a.m. on Dec. 23 and shot and killed his supervisor, Lance Herrera-Dempsey, 52.
He was found by officers nearly three hours later, still nude and with a handgun, outside the Northwest Side apartment of Dublin postmaster Ginger Ballard. He was near the body of Ballard, 53, who authorities say had been thrown to the ground and whose skull had been crushed.
Stewart was facing discipline for unspecified work infractions. He told officers that his managers had been harassing him, according to documents.
Stewart initially faced charges in both state and federal courts, but prosecutors opted to proceed in federal court, saying that’s where justice would best be served for the two deceased federal postal employees.
If convicted, Stewart could face life in prison or a possible death sentence in the case. U. S. Attorney Brenda S. Shoemaker asked federal Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. Deavers on Tuesday that Stewart be held without bond as legal proceedings against him move forward.
He remains in the custody of U. S. marshals.