Tony Kadyhrob, 70, will be sent to a psychiatric hospital where doctors can determine where he should be placed long term
Tony A. Kadyhrob, 70, has been found to be mentally unfit to stand trial for attempted kidnapping for allegedly trying to lure a 19-year-old woman at Rider University into his car last year.
LAWRENCE -- After reviewing several mental health evaluations, a Superior Court judge determined yesterday that a Lawrence man charged with trying to kidnap a student at Rider University last year is mentally unfit to stand trial.
Tony Kadyhrob, 70, will be sent to a psychiatric hospital where doctors can determine where he should be placed long term, but at this time the state will not proceed with the charges against him, Judge Pedro Jimenez said. Jimenez called for at least 30 days of evaluation before finding a long-term treatment plan for Kadyhrob somewhere in the area.
Kadyhrob did not object to the judge’s decision, telling Jimenez that he would go along with his decision.
Kadyhrob has had at least six mental health evaluations by different area doctors in the last eight months, Jimenez said.
“Most, with the exception of one, said he wasn’t competent to stand trial,” Jimenez said.
Kadyhrob’s sister, with whom he lives in Lawrence, has previously said that her brother is a paranoid schizophrenic.
One evaluation said the charges against Kadyhrob should be dismissed because of his untreated mental illness, Jimenez said. The same report noted that Kadyhrob suffers from paranoid delusions because he refuses to get treatment or take medication for his mental illness.
Kadyhrob’s attorney Michele Finizio said that her client maintains he is innocent.
“I’m sure I’ll be 1,000 percent vindicated, your honor,” Kadyhrob said, while sitting in court clad in an orange jumpsuit issued by the Mercer County Correctional Center with the sleeves rolled up. “I don’t mean to sound so very confident, but I am.”
Before the hearing began Kadyhrob called Finizio over to the jury box where he was sitting with his hands and legs shackled to tell her that he did not want her to represent him anymore.
“I would rather have Bozo the Clown represent me,” Kadyhrob said.
Because Jimenez had determined that Kadyhrob was not mentally competent, the judge said, Kadyhrob could not fire his attorney.
“I am seeking my authorities and I am very sure that they will help me,” said Kadyhrob, nodding his head as the hearing ended.
If in the future the court finds that Kadyhrob is fit to stand trial the state can resume prosecution of the charges.
“I am not surprised to see these results,” Assistant Prosecutor Amy Devenny said.
Jimenez’ ruling overturns an earlier ruling by Superior Court Judge Robert Billmeier that determined that Kadyhrob was fit for trial. Devenny said the state had previously offered Kadyhrob a chance to plead guilty to attempted kidnapping in exchange for a 10-year prison sentence.
Kadyhrob was arrested after he allegedly approached a 19-year-old woman who was walking on the Rider University campus in Lawrence on March 28, 2011. Police said that he started speaking to the woman before pulling on her arm and asking her to get inside his car. He was arrested the next day.
After his arrest Kadyhrob was banned from the campuses of Rider University and The College of New Jersey in Ewing. A municipal court judge ordered in April of last year that Kadyhrob stay away from all schools in the state. Kadyhrob’s case attracted wide attention and media coverage, in part because he was said to resemble actor Christopher Walken.
Contact Jenna Pizzi at jpizzi@njtimes.com or (609)989-5717.