Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon State Hospital officials have ruled Daniel Chan is ready to face charges of arson, assault and attempted murder.  The unusual case stems from the intentional burning of Peoples Church in Salem two years ago.

Shortly after his arrest, he was transferred to the Oregon State Hospital for supervision. Chan has been committed there before.

He was diagnosed as schizophrenic in 1989 after drowning his daughter.

State hospital officials have now determined Chan ready to assist his attorney in the arson case.
Olcott Thompson is representing Chan. He says it’s rare for a defendant to help with a case after a prolonged hospital stay.

Thompson: "In my experience that’s the longest anybody that I’ve ever represented has been at the state hospital and then been able to aid and assist. Usually if they don’t do it within the first year they are never able to aid and assist."

Thompson says he will meet with the judge on December 10th to discuss the status of Chan’s case.