Scott Swartz

A Marshalltown man who stands accused of beating his 78-year-old father to death will undergo a competency evaluation at Oakdale before the case proceeds further after a hearing at the Max Building on Monday afternoon.

Scott Swartz, 47, participated in the hearing via videoconferencing from the Marshall County Jail, and public defender Ted Fisher appeared on his behalf along with Marshall County Attorney Jordan Gaffney, who appeared on behalf of the State of Iowa.

In addition to the competency question, Gaffney also requested that Swartz’s bond be raised to $1 million cash only, and he also provided additional details about the night of the incident that ultimately resulted in Paul Swartz’s death.

According to Gaffney, Scott Swartz had a loaded shotgun in the house where both he and his father were staying on Jan. 7, and he became “extremely uncooperative” when he was transported to the Marshalltown police station, flipping a table, ripping a phone out of the wall and attempting to assault an officer. Gaffney also cited Scott Swartz’s “substantial” criminal history dating back to the 1990s and indicated that he was not currently employed.

“Substantial resources have already been utilized to try to rehabilitate Mr. Swartz back to lawful conduct,” Gaffney said. “The charges in this case are significant enough that if he were able to post the bond in this case, which is currently $50,000 cash, the state is concerned that he would be motivated to flee.”

Fisher asked Judge Jennifer Miller to set a reasonable bond amount but added that he did not believe his client would be able to post it regardless. The focus of the hearing then shifted to the issue of Scott Swartz’s competency to stand trial, and Fisher told Miller that thus far, attempts to communicate with the defendant about the case have been unsuccessful.

Judge Miller said the court found probable cause that Swartz is suffering from a mental disorder preventing him from appreciating the charges against him, understanding the proceedings or assisting in his own defense, and she ordered that criminal proceedings be suspended until the defendant can undergo an inpatient psychiatric evaluation at the Iowa Medical Classification Center in Oakdale.

Before the hearing was adjourned, Fisher asked Miller for a court order to help secure Swartz’s mental health records from UnityPoint Health and Center Associates, and she agreed to do so. No ruling was issued on the bond modification request.