Psych evals ordered for teens charged in shooting death
Judge grants evaluations for Keagan Tennant and Matthew McKetta to ensure they understand their charges
A judge ordered psychological evaluations for two teens charged in the July 17 shooting death of 18-year-old Tim J. Reeves to determine whether they are competent to stand trial.
Keagan C. Tennant, 17, of Pullman, and Matthew McKetta, 18, of Moscow, each will undergo an evaluation. Defendants in criminal proceedings are permitted psychological evaluation under Idaho Code 18-211 when there is doubt in the defendant's mental fitness to understand the charges against them. Attorneys for McKetta and Tennant filed to seek the psychological evaluations Monday and the court granted the evaluations Tuesday.
If deemed unfit, defendants may be treated by a psychiatrist until the defendant is capable of understanding court proceedings and the risks associated with pending charges.
Tennant is accused of shooting Reeves once in the face with a .30-06 rifle following a game of Russian roulette and then conspiring with McKetta to hide Reeves' body, according to police. The young men allegedly were among a group of teens consuming alcohol and marijuana in a wooded area east of Troy.
Reeves allegedly was pointing a .38-caliber revolver at Tennant, using racial epithets and telling Tennant to jump prior to the rifle firing. Tennant and McKetta then allegedly tried to dispose of Reeve's body and fled. They're also accused of robbing a Pizza Hut delivery driver of some cash and his car. The two were captured 10 miles south of the Canadian border in Curlew, Wash., following a nearly two-day manhunt
Both Tennant and McKetta have preliminary hearings scheduled for Aug. 31, and both remain incarcerated at the Latah County Jail on $500,000 bonds.
Tennant is charged with involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder, principal to robbery, principal failure to notify a coroner or law enforcement of death, conspiracy to commit failure to notify a coroner or law enforcement of death, principal to destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence as well as conspiracy to commit destruction, alteration or concealment of evidence. If convicted on all charges, Tennant could face 60 years to life in prison.
McKetta faces the same charges as Tennant, excluding Tennant's involuntary manslaughter and attempted murder charges. The maximum penalty McKetta could receive is 25 years to life in prison.
---
Holm may be contacted at tholm@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2275. Follow him on Twitter @TomHolm4.
