PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man accused of tearing through multiple homes and pieces of property in east Port Angeles with a bulldozer May 10 is slated to undergo a mental competency review Oct. 22, according to the prosecuting attorney in the case.
Doctors from both Western State Hospital in Lakewood and the University of Washington will come to the Clallam County jail Oct. 22 to determine whether Barry A. Swegle, 51, is competent to stand trial, said John Troberg, the deputy Clallam County prosecuting attorney handling the case.
No further rulings in the case, including setting a jury trial date, can be made until Swegle’s mental capacity can be determined, Troberg has said.
The trial for Swegle, who remains in jail on $1 million bail, has been delayed indefinitely.
Hearing Nov. 1
A review hearing for the competency evaluation has been set for 9 a.m. Nov. 1 in Clallam County Superior Court.
Psychiatrists from Western State Hospital and Dr. Brian Grant of the University of Washington, hired by Swegle’s defense attorney Karen Unger, already have determined that Swegle’s mental capacity was diminished when he allegedly used a bulldozer to carve a path of destruction through a Gales Addition neighborhood in May.
Swegle reportedly destroyed or severely damaged four homes, several outbuildings, a power pole, a tractor, a boat and a pickup truck.
He is charged with one count of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon and four counts each of first-degree malicious mischief and first-degree burglary with a deadly weapon — “to wit, a bulldozer.”
After further review of the case and witness interviews, Troberg filed a motion to amend the charges Sept. 19 to seven counts of first-degree malicious mischief, three counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of residential burglary-aggravated circumstances.
No court decision on the motion to amend has been made.
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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.
