A Trumbull County Common Pleas judge has denied a request to give additional privileges to a man found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 1991 Niles murder case.
Judge Wyatt McKay ruled against James Hubbard's request to be allowed more freedoms, such as leaving the grounds of the Heartland Behavioral Health Care facility in Massilon under supervision. Right now, Hubbard is not allowed out of the hospital.
Assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Diane Barber said she is pleased with the ruling and said the health professionals taking care of Hubbard, were also not in favor of Hubbard's request.
"He is currently on level three and he wanted to move to level four but the hospital officials had an issue with that because they wanted to increase his medicines and he refused to do that," Barber said.
Hubbard, however, told the judge the didn't want to take the medications because it causes him problems. "It's not worth it," Hubbard said. "I would rather be locked up than not knowing what I am doing."
Hubbard has been in a mental hospital since May 1993 after a three judge panel found him innocent by reason of insanity in the September 1991 shooting death of 21-year-old Sallie Beatty and the attempted murder of Lori Kirkwood of Austintown.
Hubbard is due back in court in December for another hearing to determine if his status should change.
