Lawrence Fitzgerald James, 24, is charged with one count of murder for the July 18 stabbing death of 22-year-old Casey Bucher. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

Evaluated in the past for unrelated cases, James has been found competent to stand trial.

Tuesday, Judge Ruth Ann Franks noted that the most recent evaluation indicated that an additional observation would be necessary to make a determination.

"[The evaluator] could not indicate to a reasonable degree of certainty that the defendant has any mental illness that would prevent him from understanding," she said. She said the recommendation was to place James in the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital for a "period of time" for observation and evaluation.

Noting that no recommendations were made as to how long James should be evaluated, Judge Franks scheduled a hearing for Oct. 21.

Mr. Bucher, a UT sophomore, was leaving Maxwell's Brew at Bancroft Street and Westwood Avenue on July 18 when James followed him, authorities said.

Police said James told them he asked Mr. Bucher for 35 cents and a cigarette, then stabbed him.

Mr. Bucher, who was stabbed once in the heart, called for help on his cell phone. His wallet and backpack were in his possession when emergency crews arrived.

James' court-appointed attorney, Adrian Cimerman, had requested the initial evaluation for competency. Tuesday, Mr. Cimerman had no objection to the longer observation period that had been recommended to the court.

In 2008, James was sentenced to two years in prison after committing a similar assault. That victim survived. In that April 15, 2008, case, James asked Zachary Molitoris, a gas station employee, for 70 cents, and when Mr. Molitoris said he didn't have the money, James stabbed him once in the back.

James underwent three evaluations during that case and was found competent to stand trial.

Initially charged with two alternate counts of felonious assault, James pleaded no contest to attempted felonious assault and was ordered to serve time in prison.

Dean Mandros, chief of the criminal division for the prosecutor's office, said the judge's ruling Tuesday was in line with the recommendation.

"We agree that the best course of action is to put him in an environment where he can be observed by professionals around the clock," he said.

Mr. Mandros added that depending on the hospital's recommendation, either the state or the defense still can request an additional evaluation.

The Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital is an Ohio Department of Mental Health facility on Detroit Avenue. Judge Franks ordered that James be held in the locked ward during his time at the facility.

Contact Erica Blake at: eblake@theblade.com or 419-213-2134.

First Published September 22, 2010, 3:53 a.m.