(David Delong – photo: Wright County Sheriff’s Office)
Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes says he plans to continue to push for prosecution of David Delong, the Watkins man who is charged in the November, 2025 workplace murder of Amber Czech of Hutchinson.
You’ll remember that Delong is accused of beating the 20-year-old woman to death with a sledgehammer at a metal manufacturing company in Cokato where both were employed on November 11th of last year.
There have been a number of delays in the prosecution of Delong. Under state law, his attorney made a motion to challenge his competency to proceed to trial. A licensed psychologist drafted a 19-page written report that was filed with the Court in which the psychologist determined that Delong lacks the capacity to proceed to trial at this time due to mental illness.
County Attorney Lutes said in a statement released Monday that Delong’s finding of incompetence is not the end of this case. Lutes says he fully intends to prosecute Delong for the murder of Amber Czech, and intends to seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Lutes says there is a process to restore Delong to competency, and that process has begun.
(Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes)
In the meantime, Delong remains in jail, and will not be released from custody. The County Attorney says a petition has been filed to commit Delong as mentally ill and dangerous. If the petition is granted, Lutes says Delong would to be committed to a locked and secure state hospital where he will be treated for his mental illness.
After treatment, his competency will be reassessed. Lutes says the goal is to restore Delong to competence which would allow his office to proceed to trial.
The hearing on Delong’s commitment as mentally ill and dangerous is scheduled for May 21st.
