EMPORIUM (EC) — An Emporium man has been found competent to stand trial following a forensic mental health examination performed at a state hospital.
Michael James Arnold, 44, was determined to be competent to face criminal proceedings by Dr. Herbert Chissell, MD, a psychiatrist at the Torrance State Hospital. Arnold was committed to Torrance for a 60-day period in April 2017, at which time he was determined to require treatment and was then committed to the forensic unit for involuntary treatment.
Arnold’s hearing was continued twice by his defense counsel, Cameron County Public Defender Christopher Martini, who took over representation of Arnold after the resignation of former public defender Tabia Cole. On Tuesday, the competency hearing was held, and Martini stipulated to the results of the mental health evaluation. President Judge Richard Masson then issued an order that Arnold is competent to stand trial.
In April 2016, Arnold was charged with multiple crimes, including felony charges of aggravated assault, rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse person less than 16 years of age, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, and related charges. In all, he faces 12 felony and five misdemeanor charges as a result of the alleged incidents.
Arnold was arrested following a report to state police that he allegedly forced himself on a juvenile female inside his home at 260 Mulholland Drive in Shippen Township sometime between April 1 and May 31 of 2016.
According to court records, the 15-year-old alleged victim reported that she told Arnold to stop several times throughout the incident and stated she punched him during the approximately 10-minute-long ordeal. The document references statements from two witnesses that state that after confronting Arnold he described the alleged events to them and told them he did it “to teach her a lesson about life and the real world.” Arnold is believed to be HIV positive.
Arnold could not be found in Emporium, but investigators received a tip that he was in the Cumberland, Md., area visiting relatives. Maryland officials found and arrested Arnold a short time later, and he was extradited back to Cameron County to face charges.
Arnold also faces charges in an unrelated case in which it is alleged he threatened several juveniles with a weapon while they were fishing in a stream that runs through the Mulholland Drive property where he was living. The young boys told police they believed he had a shotgun that he pointed at them, but Arnold contends he used a sword to chase them off. Police only found a sword on the property, which he is legally permitted to own. No gun was recovered from the scene.
A hearing has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Aug.21 in front of Masson at the Cameron County Courthouse. Both cases are expected to be addressed at that time.
