The man at the center of the April 15 armed standoff in Tracy made his second courtroom appearance on Tuesday.
Alec Joseph Jahn, who drove from Marshall to Tracy on the afternoon of April 15 and incited the hour-anda- half standoff with the Tracy Police Department and a number of other area law enforcement agencies, appeared in a Rule 8 hearing via Zoom from his cell at the Lyon County Jail.
Jahn’s attorney, public defender Eric Oldenkamp, requested a Rule 20-01 mental health evaluation, as the matter of Jahn’s competency and state of mental health have been brought into question.
“Mr. Jahn has been experiencing mental health crisises while at the jail,” Oldenkamp said before Lyon County Judge Michelle Dietrich. “Also, before being detained … it was made note that he has been experiencing a lot of mental heath issues leading up to the date of the alleged offense. Based on that, I’m requesting a mental health evaluation.”
Judge Dietrich asked Oldenkamp if there was something that stood out during his recent conversations with Jahn that led him to believe that Jahn has competency issues.
“In initially meeting with him, and discussing the case and talking through possible defenses, while he was able to comprehend and make some statements that would be helpful, there were also things he was saying that just didn’t make sense and really would not contribute to his defense,” said Oldenkamp. “It gave me an indication that he really doesn’t quite fully comprehend the current situation and what would be required to proceed in this case.”
The State took no position on the defense’s explanation.
Dietrich ordered a Rule 20-01 evaluation; a written order will be issued, and the proceedings were suspended pending the return of the Rule 20 proceeding.
Jahn’s sister, Tricia Stelter, said Tuesday that the family isn’t ready to make any official statement, other than to thank everybody who has helped them during
‘
… he has been experiencing a lot of mental heath issues leading up to the date of the alleged offense. Based on that, I’m requesting a mental health evaluation.
— ERIC OLDENKAMP, ATTORNEY FOR ALEC JAHN this difficult time and in “getting the help we need for our brother.”
The family has had no contact with Jahn since he was arrested.
The standoff ended when Jahn was taken into custody behind Greenwood Nursery.
He was later booked at the Lyon County Jail facing the following charges: terroristic threats, a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both; and carrying a pistol in a public place, a gross misdemeanor, which carries a jail term of 364 days and a $3,000 fine or both.
After his initial hearing on April 16, bail was set at $50,000 without conditions and $20,000 with the following conditions: appear at all future court hearings; be of good behavior and obey all laws, do not leave the state without prior written court permission; report any change of address to the court administrator and his attorney; complete all required booking procedures; stay in contact with his attorney; have no unneccesary contact with witnesses; abstain from any use or alcohol, marijuana and non-prescribed drugs; do not enter bars or liquor stores; submit to random drug of alcohol testing and submit to testing pursuant to the Marshall District Color Code Testing Program upon his release from jail; and not possess firearms.
