Morton man pleads not guilty to library knife attack

MORTON, Ill. (AP) - A 19-year-old central Illinois man has pleaded not guilty to trying to kill an elderly man who was protecting children the man was trying to attack with a knife.

The Pekin Daily Times reports (http://bit.ly/1WwRJhj ) that Dustin Brown of Morton entered the plea Monday to attempted murder and other charges. Brown's attorney says a psychiatric examination is planned. The attack happened last month at the Morton Public Library. Authorities say 75-year-old chess instructor James Vernon was injured when he fought off Brown on Oct. 13.

Brown is held on $800,000 bond. He is next due in court Nov. 30. He separately faces 22 counts of possessing child pornography.

Morton is just southwest of Peoria in Tazewell County.

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Information from: Pekin Daily Times, http://www.pekintimes.com