BUCYRUS — Adam Gunter of Galion, currently housed at the Crawford County Justice Center, appeared in Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Monday with his attorney, Adam Stone, for a competence hearing.
Gunter faces one count of rape, a first-degree felony. He is accused of being engaged in sexual conduct with a four-month old infant. Because of the age of the alleged victim, Gunter faces the possibility of life without parole if convicted.
According to Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold, Gunter has had several psychological evaluations during the process which began in January 2018. Leuthold reviewed the reports of two psychiatrists before making his ruling.
According to the findings of a District Five Forensic Psychiatrist, Gunner slides in and out of competency. Per another psychiatrist who represents the Board of Developmental Disabilities, he could possibly be restored to competency with treatment and then be able to stand trial.
Leuthold ordered Gunter to be transferred to the Gallipolis Developmental Center in Gallipolis , Ohio for a four-month course of treatment to try to establish competency to stand trial.
“These are very serious charges. I am going to order a four-month course of treatment to restore Mr. Gunter’s competency,” Leuthold said. “He is under the jurisdiction of this court. I will review the report in four months and decide the next step. If he is competent, he will stand trial. If he is not restored to competency then I will order that he spend the rest of his life institutionalized.”