Judge denies competency evaluation request for suspected mosque arsonist

3/13/2013

A federal judge has denied a request for a competency evaluation for an Indiana man who pleaded guilty to setting a fire at the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo.

Randolph Linn, 52, of St. Joe, Ind., had sought the evaluation before the court acts on his motion to withdraw the guilty plea he tendered in U.S. District Court in December. A hearing on his request to withdraw his plea is scheduled for March 21 before Judge Jack Zouhary.

Earlier this week, Judge Zouhary denied a motion for the psychological evaluation to determine if Linn was competent to stand trial or determine what his state of mind was at the time of the arson. The judge said defense attorney John Thebes may re-file the motion after the court hearing.

Linn pleaded guilty in December to one count each of intentionally defacing, damaging, and destroying religious property; using a firearm to commit a felony; and using and carrying a firearm to commit a crime of violence stemming from a Sept. 30 fire at the Perrysburg Township mosque.