Pennewell v. State

Banke, Judge.

The defendant appeals the judgment of the superior court returning him to the custody of the Department of Human Resources.

The defendant was charged with arson and found not guilty by reason of insanity. In compliance with Code Ann. § 27-1503 (a), the trial judge ordered him confined to a state mental hospital for a period of not less than 30 days. At the end of this 30-day period, the Department of Human Resources applied for the defendant’s release on the ground that he did not meet the criteria for civil commitment as set forth in Code Ann. Ch. 88-5. After a hearing, the trial…