Man charged in Fairfield murder enters insanity plea

A Cincinnati man facing a murder charge in a Fairfield shooting last April has been declared competent to stand trial after five months of treatment.

Adam Armstrong, 27, shot and killed Sylvester T. Gibson Sears, a 27-year-old from Chicago, according to prosecutors. He also shot Cedric D. Moore, 33, of Cincinnati, in the area of Nilles and Winton roads on April 19, prosecutors say.

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In September, Armstrong was declared incompetent to stand trial by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Jennifer McElfresh after a forensic psychological evaluation.

Defense attorney Dennis Adams filed a motion suggesting Armstrong “may have a mental disease or defect that makes him unable to fully comprehend the proceedings in this court…”

Armstrong was ordered to undergo treatment at Summit Behavioral Healthcare. This month, the court found Armstrong had been restored to competency.

Adams then entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea on his client’s behalf.

Another psychological evaluation has been ordered by the judge to determine Armstrong’s mental condition at the time of the offense.

A hearing to consider the result of that evaluation has been set for March 9.

Armstrong was indicted by a Butler County grand jury for attempted murder, felonious assault, having weapons under disability and tampering with evidence in addition to the murder charge.

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