Pubdate: Sat, 06 May 2000
Source: San Luis Obispo County Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2000 The Tribune
Contact:  P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-0112
Fax: 805.781.7905
Website: http://www.thetribunenews.com/
Author: Patrick S. Pemberton, The Tribune

TEEN ALLEGEDLY TOOK LSD BEFORE RAMPAGE

Youth Thought He Had Died And Gone To Hell, Attorney Says

The teen-ager who allegedly stole a vehicle and ran down pedestrians at the 
San Luis Obispo Farmers Market last month was likely high on acid and "out 
of his mind" as he drove, his attorney said Friday.

Lawyer Duffy Littlejohn said the 16-year-old was hallucinating, and thought 
he had died and gone to hell.

"Based on all the evidence before us at this time, it appears as if Casey 
Henderson had taken two hits of LSD for the first time in his life."

Henderson, of Avila Beach, appeared in Superior Court briefly Friday for 
confirmation of a preliminary hearing on Monday.

He faces nine felonies stemming from the April 20 incident that left one 
man seriously hurt and injured three others. The charges are two counts of 
assault, two counts of hit-and-run driving, driving under the influence, 
auto theft, disobeying a police officer, evading arrest and burglary.

The District Attorney's Office said Henderson broke into the British Sports 
Cars shop on Marsh Street, stole a Land Rover and took off on a reckless 
ride through the downtown.

Steve Sketo, a San Luis Obispo man, has not been able to walk since the 
wreck because both of his legs were broken when the Land Rover struck him.

Deputy District Attorney Karen Gray said she did not want to talk about the 
details of the case while it is pending. But she has previously told the 
court that the allegations are serious because they entail using a vehicle 
as a deadly weapon resulting in injuries.

Littlejohn said Henderson's bizarre behavior may have resulted from LSD 
that the teen acquired at Mission Plaza the night the crime occurred. He 
would not say how his client may have obtained the drug.

LSD, discovered in 1938, is an extremely potent hallucinogenic, according 
to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The illegal psychedelic drug can cause 
panic and distortions in vision, sometimes leading users to feel anxious, 
confused or terrified.

"The results are obvious," said Littlejohn. "LSD is a dangerous drug 
because it is so obviously unpredictable."

Littlejohn said Henderson may have been hallucinating when the alleged 
event occurred.

"With the information that I have now, it appears as if he was completely 
out of his mind."

Drug use can be a defense in certain crimes that entail intent. But the 
District Attorney's Office said it did not file charges that involve intent.

Henderson is the first San Luis Obispo County minor charged directly in 
adult court under Proposition 21, which allows prosecutors to skip prior 
juvenile court hearings in some cases involving minor defendants.

Littlejohn said the law violates Henderson's constitutional rights and he 
plans to contest it to the state Supreme Court if necessary. "We plan to 
take this issue all the way," he said.

Under the proposition, Littlejohn will have an opportunity after the 
preliminary hearing to tell a judge why the case should be sent back to 
juvenile court.

While Henderson faces a preliminary hearing Monday, his family also faces a 
$5.4 million civil lawsuit that was filed by Sketo last week.

Henderson had previously worn an orange jail jumpsuit at his court 
appearances, but the high school sophomore arrived in court Friday wearing 
a sport coat and a tie. He sat with his father during the proceeding. 
Outside of court, Henderson appeared upbeat, talking with his attorney.

His family posted bail after Superior Court Judge Barry LaBarbera lowered 
the amount from $100,000 to $75,000 last week.

"We are extremely happy to see Casey out of custody," Littlejohn said, "and 
we are hoping he can pick up the pieces of his young life as we hope the 
community can pick up the pieces."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D