Conn. man changes mind in runaway case

A man charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage runaway found hiding in his home backed out of a planned plea deal Thursday, his attorney said.

Adam Gault, 41, had been due in court to finalize details of an agreement that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life. But instead, his attorney asked the judge to order a competency hearing.

The attorney, Gerald Klein, had told the judge last week that Gault had agreed to plead guilty to numerous charges. But in recent days, Gault seemed troubled and reversed course, Klein said.

"When he spoke to me last week, he seemed like a different person," Klein said.

Superior Court Judge David P. Gold, who had already planned to have Gault's competency evaluated, approved Klein's request for an examination.

Prosecutor David Zagaja took no position on the competency evaluation and declined further comment.

Defendants are deemed to be competent if they can understand the charges against them and assist in their defense.

The girl was 14 when she ran away to live with Gault, who had worked with her stepfather, authorities said. She was found hiding in June in a small storage area in Gault's home when police searched it, fearing she might be dead, they said.

Gault is charged with kidnapping, numerous counts of sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, and other crimes.

He also faces kidnapping charges stemming from an alleged 1998 case in which a runaway told police she was sexually assaulted by Gault several times while living at his home and business when she was 15. She did not come forward until Gault was arrested in the other girl's disappearance.

The Associated Press is not naming the girls because it does not typically identify people who allege sexual assault.

Klein said last week that Gault had been transferred from jail to a psychiatric facility because a psychologist had concerns about his competency. Klein originally said he did not share those concerns.

Gault, who is being held on $2.35 million bond, will be examined by a team of psychologists to determine if he is competent. He is due back in court Dec. 13.

His wife, Ann Murphy, 40, and Kimberly Cray, 26, another woman who was living at the home, also face kidnapping and other charges in the runaway case.