BARRE — A Granite City man accused of trying to maim his pregnant partner by pouring turpentine on her has been found not competent to stand trial.
George C. Grant, 38, has been charged in Washington County criminal court in Barre with felony counts of attempted maiming and first-degree aggravated domestic assault. Not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf.
According to court records, a domestic assault was reported in Cabot on Dec. 5. Police said a woman reported Grant was having a mental health issue and had punched her in the stomach. Grant had reportedly fled the home and was in the woods.
Police said the victim reported she was about six months pregnant with Grant’s child. The victim reported Grant had punched her in the stomach about three times unprovoked, removed her clothing and poured turpentine on her groin area, causing her pain, according to court records.
Police said Grant was later located hiding under a mattress in a nearby cabin.
He was unresponsive and appeared catatonic during his arraignment last month. A screener with Washington County Mental Health Services reported Grant has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been catatonic before. The screener reported she believed Grant was a risk to himself and others while in this state.
A mental health evaluation was ordered for Grant at his arraignment.
A hearing was held on the case Friday, where Deputy State’s Attorney Zachery Weight said Grant was evaluated and found to be a person in need of hospitalization. Weight said hours later Grant was moved from prison to the state psychiatric hospital, where he remains.
Weight said after reviewing the evaluation, the state does not object to finding Grant incompetent to stand trial. The prosecutor asked for a hospitalization hearing for Grant, where the parties would decide how the case should proceed, including a possible court order for hospitalization or for an order of non-hospitalization, where Grant would receive treatment while in the community.
Grant’s attorney, Avi Springer, reported he tried to speak with Grant on Thursday, but Grant is still unresponsive.
Judge John Pacht said he would enter a finding of “not competent” for Grant and would appoint a guardian ad litem for him. That’s someone who is appointed by a court to look out for the best interests of a party in a case if the party cannot do that themselves. Such positions are often seen in cases involving children or those with debilitating mental health issues who may not have the ability to understand the court process they are involved in.
Judge Pacht said Vermont Legal Aid also would be notified, so that Grant will be represented by them, as well as Springer, given the not competent finding.
Weight noted Grant has a history of objecting to being hospitalized and has appealed to the state Supreme Court before arguing that he isn’t required to take the medication prescribed to him. The prosecutor said he expected Legal Aid to again object to an order of hospitalization for Grant.
Judge Pacht responded, “Well, they won’t if they’re as successful in communicating with him as Mr. Springer has.”
