LISBON A former East Palestine police officer facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges has formally entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The filing follows a recent court determination that the officer is currently incompetent to stand trial.

Matthew R. Elser, 44, submitted the written plea through his lawyer on Thursday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court.

The plea entry comes on the heels of a Judgment Entry filed Oct. 16 by retired Judge Edward Emmett O'Farrell. That judgment stems from an Oct. 15 competency hearing in which Judge O'Farrell found Elser incompetent to proceed with his case.

The court ruled there is a substantial probability that Elser can be restored to competency within one year through a course of treatment. Judge O'Farrell subsequently ordered Elser to undergo treatment at Heartland Behavioral Health Care. The criminal proceedings are deferred while Elser undergoes this treatment.

Elser was secretly indicted in July on 17 total counts for alleged threats and harassment against four people, including Columbiana County Municipal Judge Timothy McNicol.

The charges in the indictment include five counts of aggravated menacing, five counts of telecommunications harassment, four counts of retaliation, one count of unlawful restraint, and one count of intimidation of an attorney, victim, or witness.

The charges allege Elser knowingly caused victims to believe he would cause serious physical harm to them or their property between June 24 and June 25.