Monday, April 26, 2010
U.S. seeks life sentence in Wytheville post office hostage drama
Defendant Warren Taylor found mentally competent to stand trial
The Roanoke Times | File
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Previous coverage
- U.S. seeks life sentence in Wytheville post office hostage drama
- Hostage relied on military background
- Man charged in 9-hour standoff
- Wytheville suspect has a 'mean streak', criminal history
- Curious about the robot police used to greet Wytheville post office hostage suspect?
- Suspect in custody after 8-hour standoff
- BREAKING NEWS: 8.5-hour standoff at Wytheville post office ends with three hostages released, suspect in custody
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Federal prosecutors say they will seek a life sentence for an anti-government, wheelchair-bound man accused of holding three people hostage in the Wytheville post office last year.
Because Warren "Gator" Taylor, 53, has already been convicted of at least two violent felonies, another conviction would subject him to a mandatory life sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Giorno wrote in court papers filed earlier this month.
Taylor is mentally competent to stand trial, U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Urbanski ruled today. The judge scheduled Taylor's trial for June 28.
Prosecutors say that Taylor, of Sullivan County, Tennessee, has previously been convicted of five felonies, including attempted murder and child molestation in Manatee County, Florida.
Taylor, who is disabled and confined to a wheelchair, is charged with federal kidnapping, attempted murder and weapons offenses in the Dec. 23 standoff.
He rolled into the post office, announced he had a bomb and fired at the postmaster with one of the four pistols he carried, authorities said. Taylor held a postal supervisor and two customers captive for nine hours as he ordered pizza and negotiated on the telephone with federal agents and county deputies, police said. The postmaster and several other employees escaped.
Taylor eventually released his captives and surrendered. He had what authorities called a "mock explosive device," but no bomb.
Taylor said he was motivated by his hatred of the federal government, according to an investigator’s statement. He planned an attack in Roanoke, but got tired of driving and decided to "end it" in Wytheville, the statement said.
