St. Charles man, 80, fit to stand trial

An 80-year-old St. Charles man accused of causing a head-on crash in an attempt to kill himself has been found mentally fit to stand trial.

George Smith of the 1000 block of North Fifth Avenue faces two counts of felony aggravated battery in connection with the Aug. 6 collision in Geneva, which severely injured another driver. According to court documents, he has been diagnosed with several mental illnesses, including multiple personality disorder.

In court Friday, Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Deb Bree said recent psychological testing determined Smith understands the legal process and is capable of assisting in his own defense. She said authorities were still investigating whether to pursue additional charges of attempted murder.

"There's always the possibility for additional charges," she said. "The investigation is ongoing."

Smith remained in the Kane County jail, despite a judge lowering his bail last month and allowing his release on electronic home monitoring as long as he would live with his son and daughter-in-law.

Defense attorney Gary Johnson told Judge Allen Anderson there were issues with the son's ability to meet the conditions for release. He declined to elaborate outside of court.

As currently charged, Smith faces up to five years in prison if convicted of deliberately crashing his Saturn Vue into an oncoming Volvo about 6 p.m. on Aug. 6. The crash at State Street and Maple Lane in Geneva left the other driver, a 51-year-old St. Charles man, with severe head and leg injuries.

Smith later told police he was angry his wife was granted an order of protection from him and that he intended to commit suicide and "hurt someone else in the process," according to a police report read in court.

Public records show Smith's 92-year-old wife was granted an order of protection in July after her husband was accused of giving her a "double dose" of codeine and threatening to kill her sister, who also obtained an order of protection. According to the orders, Smith has a gambling addiction and a history of mental illness.

Smith, a 30-year St. Charles resident, appeared in court Friday still wearing a cast on his left arm, apparently from an injury sustained in the crash. His next court date is Nov. 12.