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With just one week left until the jury trial of four Gurdon men accused of an Okolona home invasion, the director of the Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health Services is requesting more time in the evaluation of Oscar Willingham, one of the men charged in connection with the home invasion.
The 37-year-old Willingham — along with Obryan Bell, 21, Brian Green, 28, and Anthony Marks, 35 — is scheduled to appear before a jury on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Each face charges of attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, kidnapping and theft of property.
The men allegedly broke into an elderly woman’s residence on Highway 182 in early September. The victim was found with duct tape around both hands and feet. According to police, she was “very shaken up but unharmed” as a result of the robbery.
Willingham’s attorney, Arkadelphia-based Clint Mathis, filed a motion on Nov. 28 requesting a mental evaluation be performed on Willingham, and on Dec. 16 Circuit Judge Robert McCallum granted the motion, ordering an exam by a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist.
However, according to a Jan. 4 letter included in Willingham’s file, more time is needed for the mental evaluation. Billy Burris, director of forensic services, wrote in the letter that he had received the case file and court order for the evaluation. But in order to complete the evaluation, Burris wrote, “the director is requesting an extension .... The extension is based on the filing date of the order and the date received.”
With just one week left until the jury trial of four Gurdon men accused of an Okolona home invasion, the director of the Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health Services is requesting more time in the evaluation of Oscar Willingham, one of the men charged in connection with the home invasion.
The 37-year-old Willingham — along with Obryan Bell, 21, Brian Green, 28, and Anthony Marks, 35 — is scheduled to appear before a jury on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Each face charges of attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, kidnapping and theft of property.
The men allegedly broke into an elderly woman’s residence on Highway 182 in early September. The victim was found with duct tape around both hands and feet. According to police, she was “very shaken up but unharmed” as a result of the robbery.
Willingham’s attorney, Arkadelphia-based Clint Mathis, filed a motion on Nov. 28 requesting a mental evaluation be performed on Willingham, and on Dec. 16 Circuit Judge Robert McCallum granted the motion, ordering an exam by a qualified psychiatrist or psychologist.
However, according to a Jan. 4 letter included in Willingham’s file, more time is needed for the mental evaluation. Billy Burris, director of forensic services, wrote in the letter that he had received the case file and court order for the evaluation. But in order to complete the evaluation, Burris wrote, “the director is requesting an extension .... The extension is based on the filing date of the order and the date received.”
