BELLEVILLE (IL)
News Democrat
January 24, 2019
By Dana Rieck
The Mascoutah priest accused of possessing child pornography and drugs will undergo a mental examination before moving toward a trial after his lawyer filed a motion for an evaluation last week.
On Jan. 9, 2018, Gerald R. Hechenberger, former associate pastor of Holy Childhood Church and School in Mascoutah, was charged with possessing and distributing child pornography and possession of methamphetamine. He was freed on $25,000 cash for bond after a judge lowered his original $2 million bail.
“Since (Hechenberger’s) attorney has reasonable cause to believe that (Hechenberger) may at the present time may be mentally incompetent so as to be able to understand the nature of the proceedings against him, and unable to assist in the preparation of his own defense, (Hechenberger’s) attorney is requesting that the Court order an examination of the defendant to determine his current fitness,” his defense attorney James A. Gomric wrote in the motion.
Gomric did not immediately return calls for comment.
Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Sallerson said now that his defense attorney has raised a bona fide doubt as to Hechenberger’s mental fitness Judge Zina Cruse has ordered Dr. Daniel Cuneo to conduct the examination.
A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 21. This hearing will be to determine where the case will go from here.
As of Thursday, Hechenberger was scheduled to stand trial March 18.
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