A La Pine man with a mental health condition might soon enter a plea for attempted murder in connection with an attack on his mother .

Austin Miltenberger, 21, was indicted in August 2013 for attempted murder, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon .

Miltenberger is accused of intentionally causing physical injury to Karen Morse, his mother, with a gavel and intentionally attempting to cause her death in March 2013, according to the indictment.

Miltenberger was scheduled to enter a plea Friday in Deschutes County Circuit Court. Instead his attorney, Karla Nash, requested a later date to review the case. A plea hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 16.

Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haslinger on Sept. 3 denied the defense’s motion to dismiss the proceedings, which argued that Miltenberger was not fit to aid and assist in court .

Haslinger was “not persuaded” that Miltenberger was unfit to continue because he had shown steady improvement in his condition and because she did not fully know the qualifications and current opinion of Miltenberger’s prescribing nurse practitioner, according to a letter Haslinger wrote to Nash and prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Brandi Shroyer dated Sept. 3.

Haslinger took the case under advisement after a hearing regarding Miltenberger’s fitness to proceed.

At the hearing on Aug. 22, the judge heard arguments from Nash and Shroyer after testimony from a psychologist, the defendant’s therapist and Miltenberger’s mother.

Miltenberger has schizophrenia and displays other symptoms of cognitive impairment, according to Aug. 22 testimony from Elizabeth Meals, a therapist at the Deschutes Recovery Center who had been doing art therapy with Miltenberger every week since July 2013.

When Miltenberger was 18 he was hospitalized for a psychotic break, according to Morse’s testimony.

Proceedings in the case had been suspended since October 2013 because of Miltenberger’s lack of fitness for court, according to a motion filed by Nash Aug. 26.

Nash and Shroyer could not be reached for comment Friday.

— Reporter: 541-383-0376, cwithycombe@bendbulletin.com