The trial date for a Dickinson man charged in a shooting and burglary has been pushed back until Sept. 2. A judge granted Joel Wetzel, 60, and his attorney more time to devote to the case. The trial was to begin Wednesday.
Wetzel and his lawyer Kevin McCabe requested the continuance on April 21.
"We wanted to depose witnesses and take some statements," McCabe said.
Wetzel was reportedly shot in the side by Dickinson Police Department Sgt. Dan Brown after allegedly breaking into a Dickinson residence, shooting at a door and injuring a resident in July. Wetzel is also accused of aiming a rifle at Officer Jeremy Moser.
Wetzel faces five felony charges.
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On Wednesday, McCabe said they needed more time to get an evaluation done to determine whether Wetzel has a mental illness. He had planned to use the results of an evaluation in Wetzel's defense, but McCabe would not say if that is still the plan.
McCabe filed an application to receive funding for an evaluation earlier this month, but the request was denied.
District Judge William Herauf signed the order denying the request for public funds.
In his denial, he states public funds have already been used on an evaluation for Wetzel.
"While the defendant can sure present any expert testimony that they feel is relevant for this case, the issue is whether or not the defendant can do so at public expense," Herauf states in the denial. "There has been no showing in the defendant's application that the current evaluation is in error or otherwise inadequate."
McCabe declined to comment about whether Wetzel will have an evaluation now that public funds have been denied.
McCabe has had issues trying to find a doctor to do the evaluation, but would not comment on whether he had found a doctor.
