Blakney v. Director of Patuxent Institution

On February 1, 1961, Roger F. Blakney, the applicant, then seventeen years old, deliberately started a fire at the out-patient clinic of a hospital, which did extensive damage. 1 He was indicted for arson, at first pleaded not guilty, was examined by a medical examiner of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City, later pleaded guilty, and was sentenced in April, 1961, by Chief Judge Niles to not more than five years’ imprisonment in the Reformatory for Males, but was ordered to be sent to the Patuxent Institution for examination and report. The report of the Supreme Bench Medical Examiner, dated…