Psychiatrist says ex-Fever player now competent to stand trial

By Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer

A former Tri-Cities Fever lineman was in a so-called "roid rage" in November when he broke through airport security and hit an officer, then days later bit off the finger of a jail sergeant, a state psychiatrist concluded.

Michael Rayfield Hodges admitted to medical staff at a state facility that he'd used steroids throughout his football career and had taken them for a month before the attacks to "bulk up."

This was Hodges' first time using that particular steroid and he "did not anticipate its adverse effects," Dr. William H. Grant wrote in his report to the court. "He appeared genuinely remorseful."

Hodges, who turns 26 on Sunday, spent about six weeks in Eastern State Hospital after Grant determined he suffered from psychosis and wasn't competent to stand trial. During that time, Hodges was placed on anti-psychotic medication and was closely monitored.

"Steroid drugs are known to cause aggression and psychosis," the report said.

After going through treatment for steroid-induced psychosis, Hodges is now "without psychiatric symptoms" and is ready to go to trial, Grant concluded.

Superior Court Judge Robert Swisher agreed.

Hodges is charged in Franklin County Superior Court with first-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault from the two separate cases.

He entered pleas of innocent by reason of insanity.

His first trial is set Feb. 25 for a jail scuffle in November when Hodges is accused of biting off the fingertip of a corrections officer and repeatedly punching another officer in the face.

The second trial is March 11 for allegedly forcing his way into the Tri-Cities Airport's secured boarding area four days earlier and hitting a Port of Pasco officer in the process.

Hodges originally is from California but moved to the Tri-Cities after leaving Idaho State University. The father of two used to work at a nursing home and an athletic store.

Hodges reportedly has been playing football since age 9.

Grant said Hodges told him that "he had used steroids in college and twice previously, during the first and third years when he played semiprofessional football. He used them during the most recent football season, stopped for one month, and then took them again with a friend ... for one month in order to build himself up."

Hodges -- who used to be 6-foot, 250-pounds before undergoing weight loss in the jail -- was with the Tri-Cities Fever for parts of four seasons. He played eight games last year.

"He told me, 'The steroids I was taking messed me up,' " Grant's report said.

The arenafootball2 league reportedly has no uniform drug-testing policy.

Grant said Hodges wants to make amends, particularly to jail Sgt. Arnold Boothe.

"So far as we are able to tell, he was not seeking the psychotropic effects of the steroid he took. He was simply trying to 'bulk up,' " the report said. "He would certainly be a substantial danger to other persons if he were to again abuse steroids, but he states he has learned a painful lesson."

"Absent future steroid abuse or additional reverses in his life, he would appear to present a relatively low risk of future violence," the report continued.

However, Grant also said "caution is appropriate in offering a prognosis" because of the injury to Boothe.

It all started Nov. 3 when Hodges showed up at the airport with his dog and refused to leave the security screening area.

"He said he was God and pushed his way into the checkpoint," according to Grant's initial report.

Hodges hit a female agent with the Transportation Security Administration on the shoulder as he passed through, then ignored orders from port Officer Jim Rohman to back off, according to the reports. When warned that he would be shocked with a Taser, Hodges allegedly told Rohman to go ahead because "it would have no effect on him because he was 'God.' "

The Taser was ineffective when it hit him in the chest.

Court documents say Hodges punched Rohman in the back of the head, then told a Franklin County sheriff's deputy who had drawn his gun to shoot him because again it would have no effect. That's when Hodges broke a security window with his hand and shoulder and walked onto the tarmac just as a Horizon Air flight was getting ready to leave, documents said.

Hodges yelled at the employees to "Open up the damn plane!" He then walked away from the plane and paced until officers ordered him to get on the ground and he complied, documents said.

Once in the jail, Hodges "had periods of relative calm but could escalate unpredictably into episodes of hostility and severe agitation," Grant's report said.

After a Nov. 7 visit with his father, Hodges allegedly became agitated while walking back to his isolation cell and decided not to go in. He reportedly said he was the "Son of God" and wanted to put the four corrections officers in the cell.

A struggle ensued and Hodges bit off the tip of Boothe's left ring finger, court documents said. Hodges also punched Officer Lindy Noethe three times in the face, documents said.

Grant concluded that both times it was "a purposeful, goal-directed act, consistent with the capacity for intent."

On another occasion in the jail, Hodges punched his cell door and broke several bones in his hand, Grant's report said.

While at Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake, Hodges had one incident where he was "on the verge of attacking his roommate" and had to be placed in seclusion for a few days, Grant said.

But during his stay he also "was exceptionally helpful to staff in de-escalating a volatile, potentially dangerous African-American patient" who had assaulted a staff member, the report said.

Grant said Hodges has "only the most fragmentary recollections of events that took place while he was under the influence of steroids."

Hodges said he only remembers getting out of his car at the airport, then blacked out. He also said he has no memory of the jail struggle and didn't know he bit off Boothe's finger until his lawyer told him.

Asked how he could best be defended against these charges, he replied, "All I can say to those guys is, 'I'm sorry, it wasn't me,' " the report said.

Hodges also said he doesn't deserve a prison sentence because, "I wasn't in my right state of mind.' "

Hodges is being held on $45,000 bail.

Attorney Bob Thompson recently tried to get it reduced, but Swisher said public safety is the number one issue.

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Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009

Psychiatrist says ex-Fever player now competent to stand trial

By Kristin M. Kraemer, Herald staff writer