Feb. 02--A Westmont man who vandalized a synagogue and then told police it was an "art project" was not sane at the time of the crime, his lawyers argued Monday at his bench trial.
After listening to testimony and stipulations, DuPage County Judge George Bakalis said he would review the reports of mental health experts and rule Feb. 9 in the trial of John D. White.
White, 41, was charged with committing a hate crime and institutional vandalism after authorities say he smashed seven windows and did "doughnuts" in his SUV on the lawn of a Lombard synagogue on Oct. 21, 2014. He also faces a charge of not having a firearm owner identity card after police found a large cache of guns and ammo at his mother's house.
Attorneys Joseph Solon and Jeff Kendall argued Monday at the trial's conclusion that White was not guilty by reason of insanity. A psychologist and psychiatrist who separately examined White said in reports that he could not appreciate the criminality of his acts, the attorneys said.
Lombard police Officer Joseph Statkus testified that he saw White's SUV driving through the lawn of the Etz Chaim temple on South Highland Avenue. The SUV drove into a ravine and then out and into the building, said Statkus, who said he was then able to remove White from the vehicle.
As he cuffed White, the suspect allegedly said that he "made up the Jewish temple for an art project." A detective who interviewed White later that day testified that White said he was attempting to "eliminate effective impact squares" and "destroy black chaos" at the instruction of angels.
White's mother told police her son had a history of psychiatric issues, and police say they found 11 bottles of prescription medications in White's name, but it appeared he had not taken many of the pills.
Authorities say he left a hatchet and two knives outside the temple's entrance and had written "death" on the front door in pencil. His actions caused about $6,500 in damage, prosecutors said.
If found not guilty by reason of insanity, White would be committed to the Department of Human Services for evaluation. He has been receiving treatment in the county jail since his arrest.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
