Legal proceedings against Donald Rolle stopped suddenly Friday, and after a closed door meeting with lawyers, a judge decided Rolle should be evaluated.

An evaluation raises the possibility that Rolle's trial, scheduled to begin July 7, could be delayed. Natrona County District Judge Thomas Sullins, through a court official, said the trial would not likely happen until after the evaluation is completed.

Rolle, 47, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Jennifer Randel, a woman he once dated. Her body was found, authorities say, in Rolle's pickup on Nov. 4.

The decision to evaluate Rolle, who could face the death penalty if found guilty, came after an unusual sequence of events that began with him berating his court-appointed attorney while waiting for a motions hearing to begin in court. The exact nature of the conversation was not evident, but Rolle could clearly be heard by court spectators using coarse language directed toward his attorney, Vaughn Neubauer.

It's not the first time they've had an apparent disagreement in court. At another hearing two weeks ago, Neubauer said his client adamantly opposed his efforts to move the trial to another county.

When Friday's hearing began, Neubauer, along with Rolle and attorneys from both sides, held a quiet conference directly in front of the judge's bench. After about five minutes, Sullins ordered a short recess. He explained that a motion had been filed at the bench and that he had to address a concern that had been raised before the hearing could proceed.

Sullins did not specify the motion or the nature of the concern.

A half hour passed before Neubauer, Rolle, District Attorney Michael Blonigen and other went into Sullins' chambers. After another 30 minutes, the group returned to the courtroom.

Rolle, however, was escorted out of court by sheriff's deputies, and the attorney quietly packed up their material and left.

Outside, Blonigen declined comment. A court official, speaking on behalf of Sullins, said the judge would file an order at early next week for an evaluation of Rolle.

The official did not specify the kind of evaluation. In other court proceedings, evaluations generally concern the mental competency of defendants.

According to state law, such an evaluation can take place at the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston, at a local mental health center or at a jail. If a commitment is ordered, it is supposed to last no more than 30 days.

However, mental evaluations have led to longer delays in other Natrona County cases. In a high-profile case last year involving a man who was ultimately convicted of robbing an Alcova bar, proceedings were delayed for several months.

Sullins had been set to hear several motions in preparation for next month's trial, including arguments over what evidence would be allowed at the trial. The judge has already decided on more than 20 motions, including his denial of several defense motions concerning the death penalty.

Rolle, who appeared in court wearing a mustache, orange jail uniform and shackles, has been in custody since his arrest on Nov. 4, when authorities say they found Randel's body inside his truck along a rural road west of Casper. Randel, 40, had been beaten and stabbed.

The night before, a woman who identified herself as Randel told a 911 dispatcher that she was in Rolle's truck and couldn't get away from him, according to earlier testimony by the lead investigator in the case.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.

NewsTracker

Last we knew: A judge ruled that the trial of Donald Rolle, who's charged with murdering Jennifer Randel, should remain in Natrona County.

The latest: Proceedings against Rolle came to a sudden halt and a judge planned to order an evaluation of Rolle.

What's next: The order to evaluate Rolle should be filed next week.