No new court date in case against alleged West Liberty school shooter

A hearing motion in the case against Ely Serna has been continued. Ely Serna (left) and his attorney, Dennis Lieberman during an earlier hearing. JEFF GUERINI/STAFF

A hearing motion in the case against Ely Serna has been continued. Ely Serna (left) and his attorney, Dennis Lieberman during an earlier hearing. JEFF GUERINI/STAFF

No new court date has been set for the case against the teen accused in the West Liberty-Salem school shooting.

Ely Serna, 17, faces several charges in Champaign County Common Pleas Court, including two counts of attempted murder. He has been accused of bringing a shotgun to school Jan. 20 and allegedly shooting then 16-year-old Logan Cole twice.

RELATED: West Liberty school shooting suspect found competent for trial

A motion hearing was set for Oct. 23 but that was continued at the request of the defense. That hearing was to decide on motions filed by the defense.

The defense has asked the court to dismiss the charges against Serna in common pleas court and to move the case back to juvenile court so that an amenability hearing can take place. That hearing would determine if Serna can be treated and rehabilitated in the juvenile justice system or if his case should be in adult court.

READ: $1 million bond for Ely Serna, accused in West Liberty School shooting

Champaign County Common Pleas Court Judge Nick Selvaggio found Serna competent to stand trial earlier in October after Serna was evaluated by psychologist Barbra Bergman of the Forensic Psychiatry Center for Western Ohio.

Serna has been ordered to remain at Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare in Columbus so that he could remain competent at the request of the defense, court documents say. Serna has resided there for several months.

Also Serna was ordered to undergo another evaluation, this time by Daniel Hrinko, to see what his state of mind was during the alleged shooting.

EXTRA: Judge accepts West Liberty suspect’s insanity plea

Hrinko evaluated Serna during the juvenile court proceedings before he was moved to adult court.

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