A Coal Grove man will go to a mental health treatment facility, not to prison, after he was found too ill to stand trial Wednesday.

Michael P. Childers, 27, of 121 Main St., Coal Grove, appeared in Lawrence County Common Pleas Court before Judge D. Scott Bowling and pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity on a bill of information to charges of assaulting a peace officer and resisting arrest.

Childers is accused of assaulting Coal Grove Police Chief Jason Bloomfield during an incident at Childers’ residence March 19.

According to a report dated June 29 from Dr. David Malawista, of Shawnee Forensics Center, Childers “suffers from severe mental disease, specifically bipolar disorder with psychotic features.”

In light of Malawista’s report, Bowling asked Malwista to recommend what facility Childers should be sent to.

He may be held at the facility for up to 18 months, the maximum amount of time Childers could have been sent to prison for his alleged crimes if he had been found competent to stand trial and subsequently found guilty.

In another case, Josh Adkins, 25, of 76 Private Drive 2820, South Point, pleaded guilty on a bill of information to one count of aggravated assault. He also admitted he violated his probation with his arrest on the assault charge. He was on probation for an earlier forgery conviction.

Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Mack Anderson said Adkins was arrested after he and the victim were in an altercation and Adkins tried to run over the other party with a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer.

“The victim assaulted him and he jumped in his car and came at the guy,” Anderson explained.

“I’m sorry for what I done,” Adkins said before he was sentenced. Judge Charles Cooper sentenced him to 11 months in prison but granted Adkins a brief furlough before being sent to prison.

Also Wednesday, Robert Ferguson, 47, of 3603 County Road 181, Ironton, pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor non-support. In exchange, two felony counts of criminal non-support were dismissed.

“We agreed to dismiss the felonies because a $14,000 arrearage was paid in full,” Assistant Lawrence County Prosecutor Jeff Smith explained.

Ferguson’s attorney, Chris Delawder, said the charges were the result of “an unfortunate situation” involving an otherwise good father.

“He spends time with his kids, he got down on his luck,” Delawder said.

Bowling sentenced Ferguson to six months in jail on each count but suspended the sentence and placed him on three years probation.

Ferguson must also pay $2,000 in fines and must also keep current with his child support.