Judge orders second psychological exam of teen charged in school plot

A judge has granted prosecutors' request for a second psychological exam for a Waseca teen charged with plotting to kill his family and high school classmates last year.

Olmsted County District Court Judge Robert Birnbaum ordered the second test to help determine if 18-year-old John LaDue should be tried as an adult. However, the judge said a hearing on whether LaDue will be certified for trial as an adult remains scheduled for June 30.

Last year, Waseca County prosecutors charged LaDue with attempted murder after police arrested him at a storage locker. A search of the locker and LaDue's house turned up explosives, a gun, bomb-making supplies and a journal that outlined his plans.

A district court later dropped the attempted murder charges and the Minnesota Court of Appeals upheld that decision. But LaDue, who is housed in a juvenile facility, still faces charges for possessing explosives.

After an initial review, a psychologist recommended LaDue be tried as an adult. But after Waseca County Judge Gerald J. Wolf dropped the murder charges, prosecutors said the psychologist suggested changing his recommendations. That created the request for a second opinion, according to court documents.

LaDue's attorney, Steve Bergeson, said the second exam is unnecessary.

"When there were more serious charges, you know, you wanted to make sure you'd get it right," Bergeson said. "So if you were talking about a situation, if there was a person that was killed or severely hurt, you'd have different considerations. But all of those things are off the table now."

Prosecutors with the Waseca County Attorney's Office declined to comment after the hearing.