PIRU : Shootout Defendant May Be Transferred

A former Piru man who was found insane after a shootout with sheriff’s deputies 12 years ago has improved mentally to the point that he may be transferred to an outpatient program, a judge ruled Friday.

George Gary Lechler, 50, was approved for admission to a Los Angeles hospital and may eventually be allowed to make weekend visits to his parents’ home in Piru, according to court testimony.

Superior Court Judge Allan L. Steele, who approved the transfer to Gateways Hospital, asked to be informed if Lechler violates any significant rules of his treatment program.

Lechler, who was found to be suffering from schizophrenia, could be returned to Patton State Hospital if he breaks the rules, Gateways’ clinical director said.

Lechler was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a 1981 shootout with Ventura County sheriff’s deputies at his home. He was charged with five counts of attempted murder--one for every officer in the line of fire--five counts of assault with a deadly weapon and charges of injuring two officers.

He has been in state hospitals for violent offenders since that time, except for a brief stint in a Ventura outpatient program in 1991. He was ousted from the Ventura facility after concealing from program directors that he was receiving extra money through the mail from his mother, according to hospital officials.