A man charged with sodomizing a 70-year-old DeKalb County woman in a wheelchair pleaded not guilty in court Thursday, and his attorney indicated he may claim insanity as a defense.
Police charged Donnie Bess in October with sodomy, aggravated assault and robbery for the Sept. 26 attack on the woman for whom he did yard work.
In a DeKalb Superior Courtroom on Thursday, defense attorney Bill Hankins entered a not guilty plea on Bess’ behalf and asked Judge Clarence Seeliger to allow him 10 days to file motions, including one that would assess the defendant’s mental competency to stand trial.
“We reserve the right to request a (psychiatric) evaluation,” Hankins said.
Bess, 54, clad in an orange DeKalb County Jail jumpsuit and sandals, sat behind the defense table and said nothing for the few moments he was in the courtroom.
U.S. Marshals arrested Bess in Waycross in October after a nearly month-long manhunt. Police said the suspect forced a woman to have oral sex in her home before stealing her TV, jewelry and money.
Court records show that in 2000, Bess was convicted of second-degree vehicular homicide, manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol, and that he served nine years of a 10-year sentence at the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville.
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