A 25-year-old homeless man accused of stabbing a Northeast Portland resident 17 times for telling him not to camp near his house has not been behaving rationally, a defense attorney told a judge Wednesday.
The lawyer, Kathleen Dunn, worried that Todd William Schneider might say something to damage his case during his arraignment and tried unsuccessfully to convince the judge to bar the media from the hearing.
Dunn argued that allowing reporters to record the hearing and be in the courtroom only serves to humiliate and embarrass Mr. Schneider … and doesnt serve any legitimate (goal) of the First Amendment and freedom of the press.
Schneider’s mother, who sat in the courtroom gallery, is concerned that her son has shown signs of paranoia for the past six months, Dunn said.
Judge Marilyn Litzenberger ultimately rejected Dunn’s request, and expressed her own concern over Schneider’s insistence that he represent himself . Schneider said he doesn’t want a publicly funded defense attorney, including Dunn, who was temporarily assigned to him for the hearing.
Schneider is accused of stabbing Kasey S. Lebechuck, 65, on Sunday as Schneider began to set up camp in a field near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Siskiyou Street.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Schneider responded by saying he needed to grab his cellphone from his duffel bag. Instead, Schneider grabbed a knife and started stabbing, first in Lebechucks forehead between the eyes, according to the affidavit.
Lebechuck told police he thought the knife must have slid into one of his eyes because he could no longer see out of it. Schneider also stabbed Lebechuck in the head, neck, arms and torso, puncturing Lebechuck’s lung and slicing all the way through his cheek, the affidavit said.
Police found Lebechuck lying in the doorway of a nearby home with blood covering him “from head to toe,” the affidavit said.
Lebechuck was rushed to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. He was listed in fair condition Wednesday.
Schneider pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. If convicted, he faces at least 7 12 years in prison under Oregon’s Measure 11 law.
The judge told Schneider he’d be at an “extreme disadvantage” in representing himself.
Schneider said he doesnt want a lawyer because he doesnt trust the government — and public defenders are paid with government dollars. His distrust of the government is long standing, he said.
The government is controlling my mind via remote …monitoring technology,” Schneider said. “They are controlling my sleep patterns and my mood illegally without my consent …for the entirety of my life.
The judge acknowledged that Schneider has a right to represent himself. But she said he might not be fully capable and will be at an “extreme disadvantage” without a lawyer.
Over Schneiders objections, Litzenberger assigned him a defense attorney, Michael Rees, with Multnomah Public Defender Services Inc.
Schneider will remain in jail in lieu of $505,000 bail. He said he cant afford to post bail and asked the judge to reduce the amount. Litzenberger said that could be taken up at a future hearing.
— Aimee Green
By B.N. Frank
ActivistAction 
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