Application for assessment denied
A territorial court judge has denied an application for a psychological assessment involving "a very difficult prisoner” with a lengthy criminal record to determine his mental stability.
A territorial court judge has denied an application for a psychological assessment involving "a very difficult prisoner” with a lengthy criminal record to determine his mental stability.
Michael Nehass, in custody since December 2011, has faced charges on more than 70 counts over the past decade.
They include attempted murder, aggravated assault, assaulting a police officer and possession of stolen property.
He is 29 years old.
The Crown sought an application for an assessment "to determine whether Mr. Nehass is suffering from a mental disorder which makes him incapable of understanding the nature and consequences of his acts and therefore not criminally responsible,” according to the judge's ruling.
"Mr. Nehass has been a very difficult prisoner; probably one so difficult has never been experienced,” said Judge E. Dennis Schmidt.
During his time at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, from which he is approaching his release date, Nehass has broken many windows, threatened guards and necessitated seclusion from the other inmates.
"He continues to cause problems. He continues to make threats,” Schmidt said, summarizing affidavits from guards and RCMP officers.
But the judge cited an absence of medical documentation or letters from doctors "that would assist the court in saying that this needs to be investigated.”
Schmidt said the application may have been an attempt by the Crown to relieve prisoners and guards of his presence for the remainder of his term by placing him in a psychiatric facility out of the territory.
Comments (8)
Up 5 Down 0
sick and tired of these scums on Oct 21, 2013 at 6:57 am
It's people like Mike Nehass who should be locked in a max security prison, with the very basic needs met and nothing else. He is and has a history of being very disturbed, and utterly unfit for society. He has lived off of our tax dollars for free, eats three square meals a day, had a roof over his head and all he has to do is his time before he is released back in to the streets of Whitehorse. I am sure that once he is released he will go back to his ways of trying to wheel and deal drugs to feed his nasty habits and once he screws up dealing he will be quick to move on to robbing and stealing and probably become someone who would go out and beat the crap out of people who have drug debts.
The Cocaine/crack/heroin industry is very much alive and well in the Yukon and it just keeps getting worse. Read this court report on Nehass: http://caselaw.canada.globe24h.com/0/0/yukon/territorial-court-of-yukon/2010/06/11/r-v-nehass-2010-yktc-64.shtml
If this is how he behaves in custody, it paints a good picture of how he behaves in society! And to think, he is give a chance to change over and over and over and over and over...and over again..
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shae dalphond on Oct 18, 2013 at 9:08 am
its sad that this guy gets yet another chance to victimize people again. Mr. Nehass has received some very questionable sentences for breaking a guards leg and nose to threatening people with knives to cutting off a persons finger and those are just a few.
I'm sorry I for one do not believe that his problem is medical. I firmly believe that Michael just does not care about rules, regulations or other peoples right to feel safe in their communities.
Just so everybody knows according to public record this fine upstanding citizen was a 810 order for years meaning deemed a violent offender. I think the courts are missing the Crowns point altogether. If Mr. Nehass was sent for a assessment he would be reclassified a dangerous offender and not be released.
People who are reading this please read up on this guy its all public information then appeal to the crown to take this foolish decision to a higher court. Society does not need a Michael Nehass in any community.
Up 1 Down 1
Josey Wales on Oct 16, 2013 at 11:06 am
Thank Canadian criminal code section 718.2(e) for the carnage we mere peons are privileged in accepting as the new normal.
Justice blind? Oh yeah it is blind alright, blind to WTH is going on out in the real world.
Just trying to MAKE this fact known in regards to sec. 718.2(e) is very challenging.
Super hard to have a conversation when it STARTS as an apology/indoctrination with a ridiculous cut 'n paste victim report...as per.
Up 15 Down 0
bobby bitman on Oct 16, 2013 at 5:10 am
"He continues to cause problems. He continues to make threats,” - isn't uttering threats a crime? Slap him with more charges and keep him in jail.
As for the assessment, Michael is an excellent candidate. But I guess the public has to wait until he steals, attempts to murder, and assaults again to a degree where the authorities are willing to take it seriously. Obviously his threatening people at the jail does not meet the standards.
The public needs a good series of photos of this person so at least the public know who the menace is.
With an assessment we might have known what we are dealing with but okay fine, publicize this person's photos and we will just have to fend for ourselves assuming the worst.
Up 22 Down 0
YUKON GLEN on Oct 15, 2013 at 3:34 pm
I have little doubt this guy will be back in the joint shortly after he is released. Not much that can be done untill he commits his next offense aka Chris Cornell. Hopefully he does not have to kill someone before judge sends him a federal pen to do his time.They know how to deal with his type.
Up 24 Down 0
Don McKenzie on Oct 15, 2013 at 12:41 pm
My question is WHY, oh why, is this person in the minimum security, 2 years, less a day, facility, IN THE FIRST FLIPPING PLACE??? WHY has he not been shipped out of the Territory to do some FEDERAL TIME?
Up 9 Down 4
Sam on Oct 15, 2013 at 10:12 am
What the?
If this man has psychological issues a psychological assessment may be exactly what he needs.
This is another example of using an antimodern approach when dealing with modern day issues.
Up 4 Down 8
mark on Oct 15, 2013 at 9:39 am
That's because most people do not know what neurology is! And the justice system here does not have a budget anymore, which they will never admit.