BELFAST — A man accused of repeatedly stabbing a Belmont homeowner Jan. 4 has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to court documents. 

Jetton Whiting, 26, was charged with attempted murder and elevated aggravated assault following the stabbing attack at the victim's home. Whiting had reportedly been staying in a camper on the property and had been invited to sleep inside the house due to severe winter weather.

The victim was found the following morning by a friend, telling them that he had been stabbed multiple times by Whiting the night before.

Whiting had gone under multiple competencies and criminal responsibility evaluations during his confinement, with a doctor from State Forensic Service testifying before Justice Robert Murray.

The case against him was dismissed Nov. 1 and has been moved from jail and committed to an unspecified psychiatric facility or residential program.

According to court documents, “It is ORDERED that pursuant to 15 Maine Revised Statutes (15 M.R.S.) 103, the defendant be committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to be placed in an appropriate institution for the care and treatment of persons with mental illness or in an appropriate residential program that provides care and treatment for persons who have intellectual disabilities or autism.”

Whiting will be “held and retained unless and until the court finds that release or discharge is not likely to cause injury to the defendant or others due to mental disease or defect and orders such release or discharge pursuant to 15 M.R.S. 104-A.”

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com