Man Held as Intruder Is on ‘Suicide Watch’

A federal magistrate Tuesday ordered authorities to place a “suicide watch” on Leland William Modjeski, the man accused of scaling a White House fence with an unloaded revolver last week.

Magistrate Alan Kay directed that Modjeski, 37, be placed under 24-hour watch after prosecutors told a court hearing that the graduate student from suburban Virginia had exhibited psychotic behavior at George Washington University Hospital, where he was treated for a gunshot wound on his left arm.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Eric Dubelier, who did not detail the behavior, asked Kay to grant him access to hospital records, which he said contain doctors’ observations of Modjeski, who has a history of mental problems.

“The Secret Service has raised the possibility of suicide,” Dubelier said. “The records also could bear on the issue of Mr. Modjeski’s detention--that is, whether he is suffering from a mental disease or defect and could pose a danger to himself or to others.”

Rita Pendry, a federal public defender whom Kay assigned to represent Modjeski, objected to the request for records as “a fishing expedition.” The magistrate said he would rule on it later this week.

Last month, Francisco Martin Duran, a young Colorado hotel worker, was convicted of attempting to assassinate President Clinton by a federal court jury here that rejected his claims of mental illness. Duran had sprayed the White House grounds with semiautomatic rifle fire last October as he ran along the Pennsylvania Avenue sidewalk in front of the mansion.

Earlier this month, in the wake of the April 19 truck-bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, the President implemented recommendations of a panel of security experts by closing Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic in front of the White House.

Modjeski, wearing a green hospital tunic and with his left arm bandaged, said in response to Kay’s questions that he understood the federal assault and weapons charges lodged against him. Pendry told the magistrate there was “no question” Modjeski was competent enough to assist his defense at trial.

Although Duran could receive a maximum punishment of life in prison when he is sentenced on June 29, Kay said that the charges against Modjeski could result, if he is convicted, in a maximum 10-year sentence and a fine of $250,000.

Modjeski was wounded as he struggled with a Secret Service agent on the White House lawn after his alleged intrusion. A shot fired by another Secret Service agent passed through Modjeski’s left arm and then through the arm of the first agent, Scott Giambattista, who also was hospitalized.

Modjeski received a master’s degree in psychology in 1992 from George Mason University and had been admitted to the university’s psychology doctorate program, although he had not begun his doctoral studies. He was fired recently as a pizza delivery man.