Man accused of pushing snowboarder off lift deemed insane

A man accused of pushing a snowboarder off an Aspen chairlift has been deemed legally insane.

The Aspen Daily News reports the finding by a physician at the Colorado Mental Health Institute was revealed in court Monday.

Thomas Proesel pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The 32-year-old is charged with felony attempted assault for pushing Seth Beckton off a lift chair at Aspen Highlands in January, causing him to fall about 25 feet into deep snow. Becton was not injured.

A one-day trial set in July will be held so the judge can make an official finding about Proesel’s mental state on the day of the push.

Proesel has been treated at a psychiatric residential center in Tennessee since the incident and will be allowed to live with his family in Illinois.

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Information from: Aspen Daily News, http://www.aspendailynews.com