PANAMA CITY — A man accused of contracting the abduction and assassinations of two local judges will be mentally evaluated in preparation to use insanity as his defense against the charges, according to court documents.
Joseph Russell Schmitt, 48, was approved Friday for appointment of an expert to examine him in anticipation of an insanity defense. Schmitt is accused of attempting to contract the murder of two local judges and has charges related to stalking two previous girlfriends, court records stated.
In Bay County, he will only be evaluated in connection to the two counts of solicitation to commit murder and two counts of solicitation to commit kidnapping, court records indicated. Schmitt faces charges of aggravated stalking and making a false report of child abuse.
His next court date is scheduled for July.