Man from U.P. in federal explosive case not competent

MARQUETTE (AP) -- A judge ruled Wednesday that an Upper Peninsula man accused of placing an explosive outside a Detroit federal building is not mentally competent to face the charges and must undergo months of psychiatric treatment. It was Gary Mikulich's first appearance in court since March, when he said he was the governor of California and a former U.S. president. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Greeley ordered an evaluation at that time. After getting an expert's report, he said Mikulich still is not mentally fit. Mikulich, 43, will remain in custody for treatment to try to improve his mental health. Federal law caps it at four months, but the care could last longer if necessary. The Kingsford man is charged with leaving a metal box containing explosive components outside the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit on Feb. 26. A security officer brought it inside but it sat for nearly three weeks before being examined. In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maarten Vermaat and defense attorney Paul Peterson did not object to the mental-health report. Peterson told The Associated Press he would not comment on the case. After Mikulich's arrest in March, his family said he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia 18 years ago and often refuses to take medication. He has a degree in electrical engineering. Iron Mountain police in the Upper Peninsula have said Mikulich sent faxes more than a dozen times complaining about the FBI and claiming that a "card system" had attacked him and caused the murder of thousands of people. Published: Fri, Aug 12, 2011