Jury rejects insanity plea from child rapist
By Dan Bain KPIC NewsEUGENE, Ore. -- A Lane County jury has rejected the insanity defense of a man who confessed to kidnapping and raping a 10-year-old girl, and is a suspect in several Douglas County crimes. The panel of eight women and four men took less than two hours Wednesday, to decide that Malcolm Michael Gerlach, 26, belongs in prison rather than the state mental hospital. Gerlach admitted in court that he snatched the girl off a Santa Clara street, drove her to a remote rural area, sexually assaulted her and led police on a chase before they forced a crash and rescued the girl. Gerlach is also a suspect in a Douglas County case, where he is suspected of trying to force a female employee of a downtown business into a back room the day after being released from the Douglas County Jail. Police say he stole a car in the Green District and crashed in Coos County. He was cited and released there and a short time later was arrested in Eugene after the abduction incident. The jury's rejection of his "Guilty but for Insanity" defense means Gerlach instead faces prison. The judge set January 12, 2010 for a sentencing hearing. |
Upload directly from your mobile device. Learn howYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV. Stay Connected |
Connect with KPICViewer PollMost Popular
|
KPIC, 655 W. Umpqua,