Opinion ID: 162885
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Forensic Evaluation Report

Text: 10 The district court requested a forensic evaluation to determine whether [Mr.] Gilgert is suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the court proceedings against him or to assist counsel properly in his defense, and whether or not he was insane at the time of the offense. Rec. vol. IV, def's Ex. 1C, at 1 (Forensic Evaluation, dated Aug. 29, 2001). 11 Dr. Ralph Ihle, a forensic psychologist, evaluated Mr. Gilgert and concluded that [Mr.] Gilgert evidenced severe and long-standing symptoms of a psychotic disorder, and experienced grandiose and persecutory delusions about `government conspiracies,' and about knowing [of] assassination plans against presidents. Id. at 13. Dr. Ihle's report noted that Mr. Gilgert was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which involves delusions or auditory hallucinations in the context of a relative preservation of cognitive functioning and affect, id., that such [d]elusions are typically persecutory or grandiose, id., and that the combination of persecutory and grandiose delusions with anger may predispose the individual to violence. Id. Dr. Ihle explained that when Mr. Gilgert has an unstable mental condition, he begins to exhibit grossly disorganized thought, becomes actively delusional, hallucinates, and becomes agitated and engages in behavior that may be intimidating or threatening toward others. Id. In addition, Dr. Ihle found that Mr. Gilgert's use of alcohol and illicit substances may serve to potentiate decompensation 1 in his mental status and his degree of danger to others or property. Id. at 13-14. 12 The report concluded that Mr. Gilgert suffers from a significant mental disorder and was impaired at the time of the offense, and recommended that he be committed for hospitalization at a federal medical center. Id. at 14 & 15.