Suspect in Arkansas Power Grid Attacks To Undergo Exam

Jason Woodring

A federal judge has ordered a mental examination of a Jacksonville man charged with sabotaging power lines and an electric switching station in central Arkansas.

A federal grand jury has indicted 37-year-old Jason Woodring on eight charges related to attacks on a power line near Cabot, a fire set at an Entergy switching station in Scott, and the downing of a First Electric Cooperative power pole.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported Wednesday that U.S. District Judge Bill Wilson has signed an order directing the U.S. Marshals Service to take Woodring to a facility in Los Angeles for mental health testing.

During a November hearing Woodring refused to answer questions from a magistrate, and when prodded to speak he asked "I have the right to remain silent, do I not?"