A gag order on results of a state mental examination for Martin Lindstedt has been issued.
On Thursday, Newton County Division III Associate Circuit Court Judge Kevin Selby ordered both prosecutors and potential defense attorneys to keep mum on the results, as well as all witnesses in the courtroom. In addition to court personnel and a representative of the news media, Lindstedt's live-in "paramour," Roxie Frausnaught, was present in the courtroom.
Not present, however, was Lindstedt himself. Within seconds of entering the courtroom Thursday afternoon, Lindstedt questioned the court's authority, legality, and alleged the court of having "secret proceedings." He was then escorted from the courtroom by members of the Newton County Sheriff's Department.
Once Lindstedt was escorted out, Judge Selby asked Ms. Frausnaught about the Granby man's financial situation.
"Well, he don't have hardly any assets at all," she said.
"Would you be sworn in and answer some questions under oath?" he asked.
"I really don't want to," she replied.
Representing the public defender's office, James Egan asked the court for some time to conduct an investigation into Lindstedt's finances, asking that the court reconvene on Thursday, Oct. 20 or at a later date, if needed.
"I have no objection to the public defender's office doing an independent investigation to determine what assets Mr. Lindstedt possesses," the judge said.
"You don't take it as an affront?" asked Egan.
"Not at all," Selby replied. "I do know Mr. Lindstedt has not been able to bond.
"I don't want this case to be languishing just because of the indigency issue," the judge added.
Lindstedt is accused of first degree statutory sodomy. A probable cause statement alleges Lindstedt inappropriately kissed a family member on the child's back, buttocks and groin area sometime between March and August 2003.
Lindstedt, has been acting as his own attorney in the case and has made several court appearances sporting half of a mustache and beard.
Lindstedt remains in custody on $100,000 bond and was sentenced to 660 days in the county jail for 22 counts of contempt of court.
A perennial political candidate, Lindstedt has sought a number of local, county and statewide offices over the years as a Libertarian, a member of the Reform Party and as a Republican. He last sought office this April, when he ran for Granby municipal judge and for a seat on the East Newton R-6 School Board.
This past summer, Lindstedt filed a lawsuit against former Secretary of State Matt Blunt for refusing to print Lindstedt's nickname of "Mad Dog" on the statewide ballot in 2002 and in 2004, during the Granby resident's bids for U.S. Senate and Missouri governor, respectively. In November, the Missouri Attorney General's office asked that the suit be dismissed "with prejudice," which bars the right to bring or maintain an action on the same claim or cause. An appeal of the suit was struck down by the U.S. District Court, but on Friday Lindstedt filed a handwritten motion asking that the suit be reinstated.
Lindstedt has filed, and lost, a number of lawsuits against a variety of people and entities in the past. Among these are a 1996 suit against Missouri Southern State College and the city of Joplin, in which Lindstedt sought $1.3 million from the college and $5 million from the city of Joplin for violation of his civil rights. Also during the mid-1990s, he sued the city of Granby alleging violations of his civil rights in connection with a defective equipment charge.
Lindstedt also sued the Missouri Libertarian Party in both state and federal courts for kicking the Granby resident out of the organization, and sued Newton County Clerk Kay Baum over his bid for sheriff in 1996. He has also sued Jasper County Judge Joe Shoeberl for alleged constitutional rights violations.
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