A federal judge has ordered a mental evaluation for the Clay County man accused of plotting a bombing on a 9/11 commemoration event in Missouri.
Both the judge and 20-year-old Joshua Goldberg’s attorney, Paul Shorstein, cited concerns about his mental health condition. They referenced details of a pretrial services report as well as a history of depression by the suspect and his parents indicating there have been other mental health issues. Those concerns further led the judge to order the evaluation to take place at a federal facility in North Carolina, saying a local evaluation would not have allowed those involved to “fully explore” Goldberg’s current state.
WOKV requested a copy of the pretrial services report, but we’ve been told that is not considered a public document and will, therefore, not be released.
The evaluation is expected to last about one month, but could be extended. The judge expects to schedule a hearing to determine competency within the next two months. The US Attorney’s Office did not object to the evaluation.
Magistrate Judge James Klindt says, while he’s not making a determination, there is reason to believe Goldberg suffers a mental disease or defect that would make him incompetent in the eyes of the court.
Until Goldberg's mental competency has been established, his other court proceedings- including the US Attorney's Office needing to present the criminal complaint to a grand jury in order to obtain an indictment- have been put on hold.
“Justice requires a delay of the preliminary hearing in this case,” says Klindt.
Goldberg is accused in the criminal complaint of speaking online with a man- who was actually an FBI informant- and instructing him how to make a pressure cooker bomb filled with shrapnel dipped in rat poison to make it especially lethal. Goldberg allegedly instructed the man to place the bomb at a September 11th commemorative stair climb event in Kansas City, Missouri.
The criminal complaint says, while Goldberg believed the man he was speaking with would follow through on the plan, he believed he would blow himself up accidentally while making the bomb. Goldberg says if that didn't happen, he intended to call police and alert them to the bomb prior to detonation, so he would be the hero, according to the court documents.
Goldberg was in an orange jumpsuit in court today, shackled. He waved at his parents as he was being escorted out of the courtroom at the end of the hearing. This was the first time Shorstein appeared on Goldberg's behalf. Goldberg had been appointed a federal public defender following his first appearance on September 10th, but that office has now been relieved of this case.
