Calvert changes plea to guilty

THOMPSON FALLS – Nathan Lee William Calvert appeared in court on Tuesday, September 17 to change his plea of not guilty to guilty while suffering from a mental disease or disorder.

Calvert had been diagnosed in 2003 with schizoaffective disorder – a disorder that can include paranoid delusions, and psychosis.

In changing his plea, Calvert waived his right to a jury trial.

According to Judge Deborah K. Christopher the maximum amount of time Calvert could serve behind bars was 280 years if the counts ran consecutively.

“Obviously you or I are not going to live 280 years so you could spend the rest of your life in jail. You understand that?” asked Judge Christopher.

As Calvert awaited his case to be heard, he quietly sat on the bench looking straightforward. As he moved his knees up and down, he fiddled with his hands and fingers.

Calvert is charged with four felony counts: Count one – deliberate homicide; Count two – attempted deliberate homicide; Count three - aggravated burglary; and Count four – robbery.

Calvert and his defense attorney Steven N. Eschenbacher walked through the events that occurred on Dec. 6, 2012.

Seemingly coming to terms with what he did, Calvert and Eschenbacher calmly walked the judge through the events that took place that day.

According to the two, Calvert was not taking medication for his disorder at the time of the crime, having been off the medication for a couple of months.

Calvert and his wife were at the time visiting his sister-in-law at what is called Agency in Dixon located in Sanders County.

From there, Eschenbacher asked Calvert if he suffered from a psychotic episode that effected him. Calvert replied that he had and confirmed that he believed people were trying to kill him.

Because of this fear, Calvert and his attorney claimed he was in a “very paranoid state.”

Calvert left the house he was at with his brother-in-law in search of cigarettes. During their trip, Calvert believed that his brother-in-law was going to kill him so he stabbed him.

After Calvert stabbed him, his brother-in-law stated he would get a gun so Calvert ran up the road finding himself at Doug and Cheryl Morigeau’s home.

The duo explained that Calvert never had any interaction with the Morigeaus prior to the event and did not host negative feelings towards the couple.

“I knocked on the door, (Doug) answered the door and I asked him for help,” said Calvert. Calvert explained that Doug turned toward his wife; Cheryl, and at that point Calvert began to stab him.

“And you started stabbing him? Because in your state you thought that he was attacking you?” asked Eschenbacher, which Calvert replied yes to.

“You stabbed him enough times that you killed him, didn’t you? And you almost killed his wife, didn’t you?” Eschenbacher continued his questioning. Calvert responded with a simple yes to the questions, barely audible to those present in the courthouse.

After admitting to “putting a knife” to Cheryl, Cheryl ran from the property and Calvert entered into the kitchen where Cheryl’s purse was on the counter, removing money from it.

Afterwards, Calvert admitted to trying to steal one of the cars on the property, however, he was unable to start the vehicles.

When the police showed up, Calvert said he jumped over the fence and wandered into the nearby field where he began to smoke a cigarette.

“The evidence is clear you did it. There is no one else that could have done it but at the time you were suffering from a mental disease or disorder. In this case, schizoaffective disorder and paranoia and so what you are pleading is guilty but mentally ill,” clarified Eschenbacher.

Calvert admitted to being guilty to all four counts against him.

Once their story was heard, Judge Christopher stated the defendant was acting under the advice of competent council and agreed Calvert understood the charges and possible punishments he faces.

The judge accepted Calvert’s plea of guilty and found him guilty of all four charges.

A presentence investigation was ordered and the sentencing was set for November 5, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Sanders County Courthouse.