Pysche testing ordered on man who held off cops

Thursday, June 10, 2004 | 10:01 a.m.

A federal court magistrate on Tuesday ordered a psychiatric evaluation of a Henderson man who held police at bay for 24 hours in early April.

Jeffrey Donnelly, 38, is charged in federal court because he is an ex-felon who was allegedly in possession of firearms during the standoff. Donnelly had six handguns and two rifles when he surrendered to Henderson police April 6, said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. attorney for Nevada.

U.S. Magistrate Robert Johnston ordered Donnelly to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to try to determine whether Donnelly was insane at the time of the alleged violations, if he is competent to stand trial and if he is a danger to himself or to others.

Donnelly's defense attorney and the prosecution each stipulated that a psychiatric evaluation was needed.

"The discovery in this matter indicates that at the time of the offense, the defendant thought people were after him," the court stipulation says. "He was referred to as suicidal and hallucinating. He barricaded himself in the house. The defendant is in custody and indicates he is hearing voices in the jail. He hears people asking him questions."

On the day he was to be evicted, Donnelly barricaded himself in his girlfriend's home just southwest of Lake Mead Drive and U.S. 95 with 13 pitbulls. He pleaded not guilty to the federal weapons charge April 21.

State prosecutors charged Donnelly with attempted murder of a police officer, coercion, false imprisonment, resisting and obstructing a public officer and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.