A Waterville man who was arrested earlier this month by the FBI after allegedly making online threats to kill President Joe Biden, politicians and immigrants should undergo a court-ordered psychological examination to determine whether he is competent to stand trial, the man’s lawyer said.
Benjamin Brown
Benjamin Brown, 45, of 10 Spring St. was arrested March 11 by the FBI and charged with threatening interstate communications. He faces a single-count indictment in U.S. District Court in Bangor and is being held at the Piscataquis County Jail in Dover-Foxcroft.
His lawyer, Donald F. Brown of Brewer, filed a motion Friday in court that says based on an initial review of materials and personal observations and interactions with Benjamin Brown, he has concerns the Waterville man might not be competent to undergo initial proceedings, stand trial or assist in his defense.
The lawyer said he has met with Benjamin Brown in person and spoken with him by telephone, and each time, his client “has been tearful and impaired in his ability to communicate with counsel.
The lawyer said Benjamin Brown has been “highly distractible, tangential and unable to focus.”
The Morning Sentinel reported recently that Benjamin Brown’s partner and mother said the man suffers from mental illness and likely would not hurt anyone.
The lawyer, who also cites the Morning Sentinel’s reporting in his Friday court filing, said reasonable cause exists to believe his client is suffering from a mental disease or defect, leaving him unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceeding against him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisa Ross indicated the government has no objection to the motion requesting a psychological examination, according to Donald Brown’s motion.
Benjamin Brown has reportedly made a number of comments on YouTube over the past several years, including threats to hurt or kill elected officials and immigrants. He has also claimed he was stockpiling weapons in preparation for a violent civil war in the United States, according to a criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit filed in court by Jonathan Duquette, an FBI task force officer.
The 13-page FBI affidavit details a number of threats allegedly made by Benjamin Brown, dating to 2021, when he wrote he had “thought an awful lot about killing Joe Biden!!”
In a post about a month ago, he allegedly wrote he was “going to go out and buy an AR-15” in preparation for a revolution, while claiming he and others “have every legal right to kill” illegal immigrants, “and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Officials would not say what was seized in a search of Benjamin Brown’s apartment the day of his arrest, but his partner of 14 years said officials took their children’s computer, Brown’s computer and tablet and “a couple of USB drives.”
Benjamin Brown’s partner, who asked not to be identified for fear it might put her job in jeopardy, said Benjamin Brown had no firearms or explosives. His mother, Rita Koyoumjian of Delaware, said she had never known him to own guns or explosives.
“He’s all mouth,” she said in an interview. “I’ve never known him to be in a fight. I’ve never known him to hurt anyone. His medical background is extensive, and he’s noncompliant with medication and treatment.”
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