Craft fit to stand trial, hostage case moves forward

PINE PLAINS — Chris Craft, 42, of Stanfordville, has been found mentally competent to stand trial and briefly appeared in county court last Friday, Jan. 29.

Craft is accused of holding Stissing Mountain Middle School Principal Robert Hess hostage with a loaded shotgun for several hours on Nov. 10. More than 700 high school and middle school students, teachers and school administrators were safely evacuated off the property, and more than 100 law enforcement officials assisted at the scene.

Police reported that Craft was upset about what he believed was the unfair treatment of his son by the Army. He faces 11 felony charges and three misdemeanors, including one count of second-degree kidnapping, which could bring as much as 25 years in prison.

Following his surrender and arrest, Craft was found mentally incompetent to stand trial by two court-appointed psychiatrists. He spent two months at the Mid-Hudson Psychiatric Center in Orange County before being declared fit to stand trial  (meaning he is capable of understanding the charges against him and is able to assist in his defense), and returned to the Dutchess County Jail.

Chief Assistant Public Defender Thomas Angell, Craft’s attorney, was unable to be reached in time to comment for this article.

Craft appeared before County Judge Thomas Dolan for future scheduling of his case, and was sent back to jail without bail pending his next court appearance on Thursday, Feb. 11, confirmed county Senior Assistant District Attorney Marjorie Smith.

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