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Local News

Standoff suspect to undergo psychological evaluation after entering insanity plea

| September 14, 2022

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Sept. 14, 2022) – The man facing felony charges for an hours-long standoff with sheriff’s deputies that ended with him being shot has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. 

John Mozena III entered the plea Tuesday afternoon during his arraignment in Tuscarawas County Commons Plea Court. Judge Michael Ernest presided over the hearing and read from the grand jury indictment against him. 

“They find that on August 3rd of 2022 here in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, that John P. Mozena III did purposely attempt to cause the death of multiple law enforcement officers. There’s something called a firearm specification that’s attached to it as well.”

Mozena is charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, and unlawful possession of dangerous ordnance for the August 3rd standoff near Newcomerstown that started as a mental health call. He will now undergo a psychological evaluation to determine his state of mind at the time of the alleged crimes.

Mozena was booked into the county jail last week after his release from the hospital where he was being treated for gunshot wounds to his leg and shoulder. Prosecutors have filed a motion to keep him locked up without bond ahead of his trial. Ernest has scheduled a hearing on the motion for tomorrow morning that may get pushed back at the request of Mozena’s public defender. 

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