Sharpfish waived his right to a jury trial in the South Dakota federal criminal case, opting instead for a bench trial before Judge Schulte. The court based its verdict on stipulated facts and five exhibits comprising competency and forensic evaluations of the defendant, though the underlying charges and specific facts of the case were not detailed in the brief order.
Judge Schulte applied the federal insanity defense standard under 18 U.S.C. § 17, finding that Sharpfish met the criteria for a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict. As Schulte wrote in his order, the evidence showed that "as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, [Sharpfish] was unable to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts." The judge cited the Eighth Circuit's precedent in United States v. Hiebert, which established the framework for such determinations.
Under federal law, a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict triggers mandatory commitment and evaluation procedures. As Judge Schulte noted in his order, "If a person is found not guilty only by reason of insanity at the time of the offense charged, he shall be committed to a suitable facility until such time as he is eligible for release pursuant to subsection (e)."
The case proceeded as a bench trial after Sharpfish waived his jury trial rights. Judge Schulte's verdict was based on a review of stipulated facts and forensic evaluation materials, suggesting both parties agreed on the underlying evidence regarding Sharpfish's mental state at the time of the alleged offense.
Federal statute requires the court to order a new psychiatric evaluation to determine whether Sharpfish's release "would not create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person or serious damage of property of another due to a present mental disease or defect." Judge Schulte must conduct a hearing within 40 days of Monday's verdict to make this determination.
The judge ordered Sharpfish committed to the Attorney General's custody for up to 30 days for a comprehensive evaluation at the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, Colorado, where a previous forensic evaluation had been conducted. The court noted this location was chosen because "a prior forensic evaluation of Defendant recently occurred" there.
The evaluation will assess whether Sharpfish continues to pose a danger due to mental illness and will include recommendations for release or conditional release. The results must be reported to Judge Schulte, prosecutors, and defense counsel within the 30-day period, with the U.S. Marshal Service handling Sharpfish's transport to the Colorado facility.