Tim Felling was appointed VanGelder's attorney, and the next hearing in the case was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 6.

Aimee Crumley, VanGelder's sister, was present at the court hearing, and said her brother suffers from mental illness and has days when his behavior is difficult. She said she helps her family take care of VanGelder.

She added that Smith also knows VanGelder.

Lorra Crumley, VanGelder's mother, said in a telephone interview that she felt horrible about the actions of her son.

"I would have never expected it in a million years," she added.

She said that society doesn't have a lot of help for mentally ill people who still appear, at first glance, to function at a high level.

"If I wasn’t involved in his life, he would be on the streets," Lorra Crumley said.

VanGelder pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault in 2015 in Lincoln County as part of a negotiated settlement in a criminal case. He was sentenced to a year in jail, and ordered to undergo an alcohol and drug evaluation and a mental health assessment and counseling or treatment, if necessary.

Contact reporter Neil Zawicki at 541-812-6099 or neil.zawicki@lee.net

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