BUCYRUS — David L. Chatman of Galion appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday to file a motion for a competency examination.
Chatman’s court-appointed attorney, Andrew Motter, told the court that after meeting with his client and his client’s mother, they agreed it was in Chatman’s best interest to be evaluated for both competency and a possible guilty by reason of insanity defense.
Chatman, 30, is charged with one count rape, a first-degree felony. The alleged victim was six years old. Because of the age of the victim, if Chatman is found guilty, he could serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold told the court, “I am going to err on the side of caution here. The defendant could go to prison for life without the possibility of parole so I will order the evaluation.”
Leuthold ordered both competency and guilty by reason of insanity evaluations to be done by District Five Forensics. Leuthold also vacated Chatman’s current trial date and will wait on the results of the evaluation to set a new date.