A judge is considering whether a man with bipolar disorder who threatened to commit a mass shooting nearly 10 years ago can be released into a group home.
Attorneys for Walter Rogers argued Wednesday that he would do well in a less-restrictive environment than Bryce Hospital, where he has been treated since 2013 after transferring from Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility.
The Tuscaloosa County District Attorney's office is fighting to keep him at Bryce, citing a history of violence and obsessive behavior.
Rogers, a 63-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was charged with making terrorist threats in 2009 after referencing a mass shooting in Geneva and listing grievances with Tuscaloosa Police and other city officials. He was also accused of making threats to then-congressman Artur Davis, students and faculty at Paul W. Bryant High and administrators at Stillman College.
Rogers was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect and has been at either Taylor Hardin of Bryce since.
Cathy George, program director of residential services for the nonprofit Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama, testified on his behalf at the hearing Wednesday.
"I believe Mr. Rogers will have a chance of success if he is released," she said.
George interviewed Rogers and three other patients at Bryce on the same day. She said Rogers was her first pick as a candidate to move to a group home, and that she denied two others based on their interviews and history. She noted that Indian Rivers in Tuscaloosa was willing to house him twice in past years, and a facility in Birmingham was willing to take him as well.
"He has been stable for the last several years," she said. "He acknowledged he had made mistakes and expressed he wanted to do better, and agreed to the treatment plan laid out for him."
She said the group home where he would be housed is a co-ed, 10-bed facility that's staffed around the clock. She noted that Rogers is classified in Level 3 care at Bryce, the least restrictive, meaning he is allowed to leave the grounds for outings to places like Walmart with staff. He has exhibited no problems during those times, she said.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Al May will make the final decision about whether Rogers can be released to the group home.