A man accused of attempted murder by strangulation was found not guilty by reason of insanity in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Chad Chandler Neblett, 37, was living at the Pavilion at Williamsburg Place – a psychiatric care hospital located on Mooretown Road – on March 26 of last year when he attacked and injured another resident there.
Neblett, who is from Richmond and had been involuntarily admitted to the hospital via court order, choked a 44-year-old female resident and left her with red marks and swelling on her neck, according to a James City County Police report.
The woman was transported to Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center for her injuries, and Neblett told officers he “chocked [the woman] with the intent of killing her,” according to Stephanie Williams, the JCC Police Department spokesperson.
Neblett was charged with felony attempted murder, felony strangulation, misdemeanor assault and battery and misdemeanor disorderly conduct on hospital grounds.
When he appeared in court Wednesday, Neblett pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to all four charges. His attorney, Ivan Fehrenbach, submitted a medical report to the court that supported this defense and the Commonwealth agreed the evidence was sufficient to prove his insanity at the time of the crime.
Judge Michael McGinty accepted Neblett’s plea and found him not guilty by reason of insanity on each count. He ordered Neblett to be discharged to the Commissioner of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for further evaluation.
The court will review the findings of the Commissioner on May 18.
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