Judge wants mental report in Stupak threat case

BAY CITY (AP) -- A psychiatrist has 30 days to submit a report on the mental health of a northern Michigan man charged with making a threat against a then-congressman. Federal Judge Thomas Ludington in Bay City settled on Dr. Craig Lemmen, the expert favored by prosecutors. Russell Hesch can get a second opinion at his own expense. Defense lawyers say the 73-year-old Hesch may be showing early signs of dementia. The West Branch man is accused of writing a letter that threatened to paint the Mackinac Bridge with Bart Stupak's blood because he voted for a health care law last year. Stupak represented northern Michigan in Congress but did not seek re-election in 2010. Published: Fri, Mar 4, 2011