Harvey Updyke pleaded not guilty Wednesday "for reasons of mental disease or defect," waiving Thursday's arraignment hearing. A mental evaluation is reportedly underway to determine whether Updyke is fit to stand trial.
If trial does commence, Updyke could face four felonies and two misdemeanors for allegedly poisoning Auburn's Toomer's Corner oak trees. He appeared to confess to the crimes when he called in to Paul Finebaum's show months ago before the damage was even discovered, and came very close to appearing to confess during separate post-poisoning interviews with Finebaum and with ESPN.
For those reasons, you'd have to think the current plea is the defense's only option. Even the most novice psychologist would comfortably describe Updyke's mental state as delicate at best, as he sometimes doesn't seem to get why everybody's so mad at him all the time.
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