Sex Slavery Suspect OK to Stand Trial, His Lawyer Says
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The retired handyman accused of holding at least five women as sex slaves in an underground bunker has been found competent to stand trial, a defense attorney said Tuesday.
The opinion came from a psychologist hired by attorneys for the defendant, John Jamelske.
Defense attorney Robert Earl declined to discuss the expert’s findings but said the conclusion does not necessarily rule out a psychiatric defense at trial.
Jamelske, 67, is being held in jail without bail on charges of kidnapping, rape, sodomy and sexual abuse. He was arrested April 7 after a 16-year-old girl told authorities that he had held her hostage for nearly seven months in a concrete dungeon he built under his backyard.
Since Jamelske’s arrest, four other women have told police they were abducted and raped by him. Police, suspecting there are other victims, released photos of Jamelske for the first time Monday.
Police said one of the victims was held captive for more than two years.
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