State asks for mental evaluation of Bradley

State prosecutors have filed a motion in Superior Court asking for a mental examination of Lewes pediatrician Earl Bradley.

The motion, filed on Tuesday, April 19, asks for Bradley to submit to the evaluation, to be conducted Dr. Peter Collins, a psychiatrist selected by the state.

According to the motion, Bradley's defense team - Dean Johnson and Stephanie Tsantes of the Public Defender's Office - will not pursue an insanity defense. Prosecutors say the defense could introduce evidence of Bradley's mental condition and claim he is "guilty but mentally ill."

Jason Miller, spokesman for the Department of Justice, said he could not comment on what the mental evaluation would entail, citing a gag order that prevents both the prosecution and defense from speaking about the case.

Bradley has been accused of sexually abusing more than 100 of his child patients. He is facing more than 500 counts of rape and child exploitation at his BayBees Pediatrics office on Route 1 in Lewes. He is currently incarcerated at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna.

The defense had asked New Castle County Superior Court Judge William C. Carpenter to suppress video evidence showing Bradley sexually assaulting patients. Carpenter ruled that the video evidence is admissible at Bradley's trial, scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 1 in New Castle County Superior Court.