Next hearing in stabbing case set for March 19
March 19 has been set as the next time for Caleb Arnett of Aurora to be back in Hamilton County Court to face charges of first degree murder related to the stabbing death of his stepfather.
At a motions hearing Tuesday morning before Judge Lynelle Homolka, Arnett’s attorney, Brian Craig of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, made a motion for continuance of Arnett’s preliminary hearing in order to have the defendant independently evaluated by a mental health professional to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
Craig had previously asked for a delay in the matter Dec. 19 at the hearing that was originally set as the preliminary hearing. The judge granted that motion and had rescheduled the hearing for Tuesday.
Craig told the court this week, however, that due to a shortage of mental health providers, he had been unable to schedule the evaluation. However, he said he did have an evaluation scheduled for March 15, so he was asking the court to continue the matter until after that date.
Hamilton County Attorney Douglas Dexter said he had no objection to the continuance, but he asked the court to require an evaluation of Arnett’s mental status by the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as provided for in state statute. He said with the defendant’s cooperation, the evaluation could take place at the county jail where Arnett is still incarcerated. His bail has been set at 10 percent of $2 million.
Upon hearing no objection from the defense, the judge granted defense motion to continue and also ordered that Arnett also be evaluated by DHHS. She further ordered that the state’s evaluation be submitted to the court and the attorneys in the case. The next hearing was set for Tuesday, March 19 at 8:30 a.m.
Arnett is charged with six felony counts in connection with the stabbing death of his step-father, Ross Nicholas, and the wounding of his mother, Theresa Nicholas and a stepbrother on Dec. 2.