Man Charged In Conspiracy Placed On Suicide Watch

Scott Schweickert, 39 is in jail on charges linking him to a crime of violence. In an affidavit, a federal agent said Schweickert described how he helped dispose of Galehouse and Wachholtz's bodies after Steven Lorenzo had killed them.

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI esilvestrini@tampatrib.com

Published: Jan 20, 2006

TAMPA - Scott Schweickert, who admitted he helped Steven Lorenzo kill two men, is on suicide watch in the Hillsborough County Jail. A judge on Thursday ordered a psychiatric examination.

Federal Magistrate Mark Pizzo ordered the evaluation to determine whether Schweickert is competent to stand trial. Schweickert's scheduled February trial could be postponed, depending on how long the evaluation takes.

Schweickert is charged with conspiring with Steven Lorenzo to give a date rape drug to Michael Wachholtz and Jason Galehouse, who disappeared in December 2003. Lorenzo was convicted in November of nine counts of drug-facilitated crimes of violence and of conspiring with Schweickert.

Pizzo convened a hearing Thursday to discuss a motion by defense attorney Pedro Amador to postpone Schweickert's trial. Amador maintained he did not have enough time to prepare for trial. As Pizzo appeared ready to deny the motion, Amador asked to speak to the judge privately.

After talking to the attorney at sidebar, the judge called a recess, saying he needed to contact the U.S. Marshals. Later, the judge said he'd been informed by the marshals that Schweickert was on suicide watch. Because of that, Pizzo said, he would order an evaluation by a psychiatrist. He said he'd defer ruling on the postponement until he had more information.

Approached after the hearing, Amador would not comment further.

According to jail records, Schweickert was placed on psychiatric observation in the Falkenburg Road Jail on Jan. 10. An incident report says the following restrictions were imposed: "stripped cell, no sharps, no linens, no recreation, 15 minute watch and a finger food diet. Inmate Schweickert may have a uniform, mattress and a blanket only."

Records show he was placed on a similar observation two days after he was arrested in May.

Before his arrest, Schweickert told investigators he held both victims down when Lorenzo killed them, and then helped dispose of the bodies, according to an affidavit filed in court.

Authorities said Lorenzo and Schweickert were kindred spirits in a sadomasochistic subculture of torture and bondage. According to evidence presented in Lorenzo's trial, the two met on the Internet in October 2003 and soon began planning to kidnap, rape and kill other men.

Lorenzo is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 27 and could receive 200 years in prison. The Hillsborough County Prosecutor's Office is considering murder charges.