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Release denied to man who shot deputies |
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Tuesday, 29 January 2008 |
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By Mike Gervais
Register Staff 1-26-2008
James Roy Catron will be spending at least another two years in the state mental hospital where he has been incarcerated since 1985 after shooting and wounding two Inyo County law enforcement officers.
That was the ruling handed down during a bench trial held earlier this month to determine if the man responsible for the shoot-out 24 years ago should be permitted to rejoin society.
Catron was accused of shooting and wounding two sheriff’s deputies outside of the Inyo County Jail in 1984. The Inyo County sheriff was also wounded by falling glass during the exchange. The following year at trial, he was found not guilty, by reason of insanity, on three assault with a deadly weapon charges and committed to Patton State Hospital.
According to current Inyo County D.A. Art Maillet, Catron was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and sentenced to 11 years at Patton. In 1996, Catron served the maximum time in the state hospital under the original commitment on the not guilty by reason of insanity finding. But since that time he has been entitled to have his commitment reviewed every two years by jury trial.
“Four years ago we did go to two jury trials,” said Maillet, noting that the first trial resulted in a hung jury, and the second found Catron to be a danger of physical harm to others as a result of his mental disorder.
“But since then he did a bench trial” at the proceedings that followed, Maillet said.
Catron’s case again went to bench trial in Inyo County Superior Court on Monday, Jan. 14. Testimony was given by a psychologist at the trial, while psychological reports were submitted for the proceedings by two other psychologists and two psychiatrists.
“The court found beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Catron still represents a substantial danger of physical harm to others as a result of a mental disorder,” the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office states in a press release.
Catron was not present at the trial earlier this month. “He waived his presence,” Maillet said. “It’s my understanding that he doesn’t like to come up here.”
Subsequently, Inyo County Superior Court Judge Patrick Canfield extended Catron’s commitment to Patton State Hospital for another two years. His next trial will be in 2010.
The shooting that led to Catron being institutionalized occurred on June 7, 1984 outside the old Inyo County Jail.
According to Inyo County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Steve Rogers, who was one of the deputies wounded during the fire fight, Catron had posted bail at Inyo County Jail and returned to get his bail money back. He apparently went to the Inyo County Courthouse to discuss getting his money and was directed to the jail. Rogers said, Catron had a semi-automatic Uzi rifle slung over his arm, but the clerk at the courthouse “couldn’t see it” because of how she was seated.
Catron walked to the jail and was told he would not receive his bail money until he appeared in court.
At that point Catron began walking back north, towards Inyo Superior Court, when sheriff’s deputies noticed the rifle in his possession.
“I yelled at him to stop,” Rogers said. He did, but refused orders to put the weapon down.
According to Rogers, Catron opened fire. Sergeant Jack Goodrich, Deputy Jim Nevjaha, and Sergeant Mike Nicholas all responded to the scene.
Rogers could not recall how many shots were fired in the exchange, but he said he and Goodrich were wounded when Catron opened fire. Rogers was shot in the arm. Catron also shot out a window in the jail. The falling glass from the window injured the then-sheriff, Rogers said.
When officers returned fire, Catron was hit five times. He was taken to Southern Inyo Hospital in Lone Pine and treated for his injuries.
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 March 2008 )
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