Mayworm Declared Incompetent
by Ben Hogwood

A Lamoille County judge found Brendan Mayworm, the man charged with
attempting to kill two police officers in Jeffersonville, currently
incompetent to stand trial at a hospitalization hearing on Wednesday,
May 12.
Mayworm, 20, has been housed at the Vermont State Hospital since his
frenzied attack upon two police officers with both a shovel and a
baseball bat, on Saturday, March 27, in Jeffersonville. Mayworm tried to
get away from the officers by jumping into the Lamoille River and
swimming to the other side.
Judge Edward Cashman stated that testimony from Mayworm's psychiatrists
at VSH, conclude Mayworm suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. "The
disease is in an acute phase and is of long standing," stated the
judge's order. "The disease affects his ability to perceive reality
accurately. It substantially impairs his judgement and impulse control,"
it continued.
The judge stated that the illness can cause episodes of psychosis which
manifest into unprovoked attacks on random victims. The judge decided
that as Mayworm has no relatives in this area, he should return to the
Vermont State Hospital as, "The State Hospital is the least restrictive
choice the court presently has," he stated.
According to Dr. Robert Linder, a psychiatrist at the hospital,
Mayworm's mental state would greatly improve if he were to undergo a
conservative drug regimen. However, Mayworm is currently against taking
the drugs.
While the judge has currently declared Mayworm incompetent to stand
trial, he could go to trial at a future date. The hospitalization order
lasts up to 90 days, by which time the judge must convene another
hearing on the matter. The charges against Mayworm have not been dropped
by the state.
According to court papers, Mayworm broke into the house of David Knight,
a Stowe Police officer living in Jeffersonville, on Saturday, March 27.
Knight, upon returning home, called the Vermont State Police and
escorted Mayworm from the property. Mayworm later returned and grabbed a
shovel, swinging it at Knight until it broke. He then grabbed a ski and
tried to stab the officer. Knight finally got inside his house.
Twenty minutes later, VSP Corporal Ralph Chilton located Mayworm walking
in the village with a baseball bat. Chilton and VSP Corporal George
Sheldrick approached him from both front and behind. The officers
ordered him to drop the baseball bat, but instead Mayworm swung it at
Chilton's head. Chilton blocked the swing with his arm.
Mayworm then jumped into the Lamoille River and swam to the other side,
where he was detained by numerous officers. While being held at the
Lamoille County Sheriff's Department, Mayworm bit an officer on the
upper arm.
Mayworm refrained from making an appearance at his arraignment, on
Monday, March 29. He was present at the hospitalization hearing.