ST. GEORGE, Utah, June 18 (UPI) -- A U.S. district magistrate says a man accused of threatening President Barack Obama will have to undergo a mental examination before he stands trial.
The Salt Lake Tribune said U.S. District Magistrate Robert Braithwaite said the results of the screening of Daniel James Murray would determine if the threat suspect is mentally competent to be tried on charges he made a threat against the president in St. George, Utah.
Murray has been accused of telling a teller at a Zions First National Bank branch on May 27 he was part of a plot to kill Obama.
"We are on a mission to kill the president of the United States," Murray was quoted in court documents as allegedly saying.
The U.S. Secret Service and Las Vegas police arrested Murray on June 5 after learning of the threat.
Braithwaite used Wednesday's judicial session in Salt Lake City to appoint a defense attorney for Murray, the Tribune reported.
The newspaper said Murray, 36, will undergo his mental exam at an undetermined federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
