Scott Stewart (Source: Angelina County Jail)LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) -
A district judge
is allowing a Lufkin man accused of robbing his friend for more rent money to
be evaluated by an expert to determine if he was sane at the time of the crime.
Prosecuting attorney Dale Summa said Scott Alexander Stewart, 40, has already been ruled competent to stand trial. Now his attorney is asking that an expert determine if he was insane when he committed the crime.
Lufkin Police arrested Stewart in March 2011 after he allegedly used a knife to try to get more rent money from his friend.
According to the Lufkin Police report,
Stewart was letting a friend stay at his house for $20. The friend said
Stewart was getting high on crack cocaine and decided he wanted $40 more
from his friend.
Police were dispatched to the house, located
on the 400 block of East Laurel Avenue, in reference to an assault. The
victim said Stewart pulled a knife on him when he would not give him
more money and pushed him off the porch of the house, then would not let
him have his bicycle back.
When police arrived at the scene, they tried
to encounter Stewart, but the report says Stewart refused to let them in
and would open the door at times to yell at the officers.
Officers then began shooting pepper balls into the house before Stewart finally opened the door and surrendered to police.
Summa explained a defendant can be ruled insane at the time of the crime if they can prove they were suffering from a mental issue. But willingly being high on drugs does not make someone legally insane.
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