Court orders psychiatric treatment in library stabbing case

"I'm not a psychopath. I'm a sociopath," insisted Michael Todd during a court hearing Tuesday.

But the distinction, Cook County Judge John Scotillo ruled Tuesday, will not be for Todd to decide. Instead, Scotillo remanded the homeless man to Illinois' Department of Human Services for treatment in an attempt to render him fit to stand trial for attempted murder in the stabbing of another homeless man outside the Arlington Heights Memorial Library late last year.

Tuesday's profanity-laced appearance marked the latest in a series of stormy hearings involving Todd, 52. Court personnel exercised great forbearance throughout the hearing, which began with Scotillo referring to Todd's refusal to submit to a court-ordered psychiatric exam. Todd interrupted the judge, saying he had been "cleared of any and all mental aberrations" in 2002 and would not submit to an exam by a "college freak."

Todd, who listed his address as the Hope Center on the 1100 block of Northwest Highway in Palatine, also claimed he has been falsely and illegally imprisoned from 1991 to 2002. He declined repeatedly Scotillo's offers of a public defender's services and acted as his own lawyer.

Assistant State's Attorney Shari Chandra said Todd neither comprehends the charges against him nor the nature of the proceedings and therefore lacks the capacity to stand trial at this time. In addition to testimony from various county officials, she introduced transcripts recounting the defendant swearing at, threatening and insulting court personnel.

The transcripts also revealed Todd's confusion, as when he insisted his Dec. 29 bond hearing was a "full blown trial." He seems confused as to whether he's charged with murder or attempted murder. And when confronted with a 2006 conviction for aggravated battery, he claimed "it was an implant" and said, "I'm not going to argue it."

Todd called the transcripts Chandra quoted "imaginary" and insisted "your allegation that I stabbed someone is slander." His statements to the court and cross examination of witness were rambling and incoherent.

"The defendant's conduct, in my opinion, indicates he doesn't understand the nature of the offense and cannot prepare a defense or participate in a trial," said Scotillo. "If he was represented, he would not be able to assist in his defense. This confusion would prevent him from mounting a defense at all."

Scotillo ordered DHS to file a written report on Todd's progress by June 25.