Man Charged In Aspen Chairlift Push Deemed Legally Insane
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) - A man charged with attempted assault for pushing a snowboarder off an Aspen chairlift has been deemed by a psychiatrist to have been legally insane at the time.
The Aspen Daily News reports that according to statements in court Monday, a state appointed psychiatrist made the finding. Thomas Proesel had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
A one-day, no-jury trial was set for July 15 for Pitkin County District Court Judge Chris Seldin to make an official finding about Proesel's mental state when he pushed a 28-year-old snowboarder off the lift on Jan. 17. Prosecutor Andrea Bryan told The Associated Press Tuesday that at this time she is not planning to seek another evaluation.
The snowboarder was uninjured after plummeting about 25 feet into a pile of fresh powder.
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