The 18-year-old student who brought a handgun to West Geauga High School April 3 with plans to shoot multiple students pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity May 8 to three felony counts, including attempted aggravated murder, possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone and inducing panic.
The 18-year-old student who brought a handgun to West Geauga High School April 3 with plans to shoot multiple students pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity May 8 to three felony counts.
Brandon Michael Morrissette appeared for his arraignment at 3 p.m. Monday remotely via jail video before Geauga County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Paschke.
He faces a first-degree felony charge of attempted aggravated murder, a fifth-degree felony charge of possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone and a first-degree felony of inducing panic. The aggravated murder charge carries a maximum possible prison term of 16 1/2 years, not including specifications for committing the crime in a school safety zone and possessing a firearm which, combined, could tack on an additional three years.
Morrissette also faces a maximum sentence of one year on each of the other two charges.
Morrissette’s attorney, Henry Hilow, was present in the courtroom while Morrissette remained at the Geauga County Safety Center.
Paschke said the court will order an evaluation through the Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic in Summit County.
“When we receive that report from the Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic, we’ll set the matter for a hearing within a reasonable time,” she said.
Paschke said her court received and reviewed a motion to hold the defendant in jail without bond, which was filed by the state.
“We reserve the right at a later date to deal with the bond issue,” Hilow said.
Paschke said Morrissette is entitled to a hearing on the matter.
“With there being no objection, I will order that the defendant be held without bond and at your request, Mr. Hilow, the court will set the matter for a hearing,” Paschke said.
Morrissette, of Lyndhurst, was indicted May 2 by a Geauga County grand jury for bringing a 9mm handgun with three loaded magazines to West Geauga High School April 3. He was arrested that morning after fellow student Casey Orloski, 17, discovered a bullet in the men’s bathroom.
Orloski alerted school resource officer Nick Iacampo, who conducted an immediate investigation that identified Morrissette as the suspect.
Court records show when interviewed by Chester Township Police Chief Craig Young and Capt. Jeff Sherwood, Morrissette admitted he planned to open fire on students in the school library, and that he chose the location because of the large number of students who would be there at that time.
A 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun with three loaded magazines was found during a search of Morrissette’s book bag. He also had a lock blade-style knife secured to the exterior of his pants.
Geauga County Prosecutor Jim Flaiz said he was pleased the judge is holding Morrissette without bail.
“It’s going to take a while, but they’ll send him down for psychological evaluation. That could be six to eight weeks at least ’til we get that back,” Flaiz said. “In the meantime, we know he is in the jail, the community is safe and we’ll hear more from the experts.”
Flaiz said Morrissette is entitled to a hearing based on what is found in the psychological report and is also entitled to a second opinion if he wishes.
“That’s, a lot of times, the course that these cases follow,” he said. “They definitely will not move as quickly as one of our regular criminal cases.”
