Glenn Assailant to Get Psychiatric Tests
A U.S. magistrate on Thursday ordered that a man who slugged Sen. John Glenn be held without bond and sent to a federal prison hospital for psychiatric evaluation.
Michael Breen, 31, of Washington, identified by prosecutors as an engineer with Martin Marietta Corp., is to undergo testing for 30 days at a federal prison hospital in Butner, N.C., Magistrate Deborah Robinson ordered.
Breen appeared before Robinson on a felony charge of assaulting a member of Congress a day after he slugged Glenn on the jaw as the Ohio Democrat was being interviewed by a television reporter in front of the National Air and Space Museum.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Breen was muttering about earthquakes and the Pope, said Gary Nurenberg, who was interviewing Glenn when the incident occurred.
Breen’s attorney, Barry Stiller, refused to discuss the case but said his client is “just a very nice young man who, I think, is a little confused.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
