A California judge today ruled that disgraced pastor James MacDonald is eligible for a mental health diversion in his felony assault case, stemming from an incident in March, which left a 59-year-old woman hospitalized.
After hearing arguments that MacDonald suffered from PTSD, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Carlos Varela ordered a contested hearing for February 28 to determine if a mental health diversion is appropriate. If granted, the charges against MacDonald would be dismissed, pending successful completion of a treatment program.
As reported previously by El Informe Roys (TRR), MacDonald allegedly struck a car parked in front of him on March 22, while trying to parallel park on Orange Avenue in Coronado. The occupant of the car, later identified as 59-year-old Barbara Bass, got out of her car to talk to MacDonald. Then MacDonald “jumped out of his truck and attacked the victim,” according to Coronado Police.
Today, Assistant District Attorney Alexsis Lamprea stated that the injuries sustained by the victim required her to be in the hospital for 21 days. Lamprea added that only recently has Bass been able to walk without a walker or cane.
MacDonald’s attorney, Marc Carlos, claimed in today’s hearing that MacDonald responded the way he did because he suffered from PTSD due to “some really bad reporting,” “internet trolling,” and “constant harassing” online.
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Carlos said a psychological evaluation, led by a “Dr. Anderson,” showed MacDonald suffered from PTSD from at least 2020, but possibly as early as 2017. (A Dr. Shannae Anderson, a clinical psychologist in Virginia and California, was listed on the conference call of today’s proceedings.)
Judge Varela read a section of Anderson’s report out loud during the hearing, which referred specifically to TRR’s reporting on MacDonald.
“It is the examiners professional opinion that James’ reaction is a function of PTSD,” Judge Varela stated. “. . . ‘Once the woman in the car in front of him got out of the car and moved towards him in an angry and agitated state, the years of traumatic memories of being vilified by Julie Roys rushed back to him and triggered a fight or flight response. Feeling powerless and misunderstood and essentially trapped in his truck, he got out of the vehicle to fight back against his accuser.’ So again, that is the analysis of Dr. Anderson.”
Carlos presented MacDonald as a model citizen. In his 62 years of living, he’s “had no incidence of violence, no incidence of any type of criminal history, no substance abuse, domestic violence—nothing,” the attorney said.
Referring to MacDonald’s 30-plus years at Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicago area, Carlos stated that MacDonald used to pastor a “very, very large congregation.” Carlos added that three to four million people used to watch MacDonald’s various ministries online and he has “basically done everything right.”
Carlos made no mention of the numerous allegations of intimidación, abuso espiritual, engaño, misuse of finances, or mala conducta sexual, which led Harvest to fire MacDonald.
Instead, Carlos claimed, “All the things I’m talking about were taken away as a result of some underhanded dealings with other church members.”
“A willful and callous act”
Assistant District Attorney Lamprea argued that MacDonald’s PTSD was not a “significant factor in the crime committed.” Instead, she said the crime was “a willful and callous act that the defendant thought about.”
Lamprea noted that the victim got out of her car to keep MacDonald from leaving the scene. Lamprea said that’s when MacDonald got out of his car and lunged at the victim, causing them both to fall to the ground, and the victim to sustain “significant injuries.”
Lamprea said she couldn’t comment on whether PTSD could be caused by things said online but would plan to bring in an expert if the case proceeded to a contested hearing. However, she noted that the pushback MacDonald has received online was due to his own behavior and “the defendant’s way of interacting with members of his community.”
Lamprea did not mention any specifics concerning MacDonald’s past behavior.
She did, however, note that MacDonald had been in treatment for mental health issues multiple times, which have “been unsuccessful.”
“The people think that’s very indicative of the defendant’s amenability to treatment in this case,” she added.
“An unreasonable risk of danger”?
According to Judge Varela, a defendant is eligible for a mental health diversion if four criteria are met.
The first is whether the defendant has been diagnosed with a mental disorder, which MacDonald clearly has.
The second is whether that disorder played a “significant factor” in the commission of a crime. And according to the California statute, the disorder is considered a significant factor unless there’s “clear and convincing evidence otherwise,” which Varela said he had not seen.
Thirdly, the defendant has to consent to diversion and agree to treatment, which MacDonald has.
And lastly, the defendant has to show that he doesn’t “pose an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.”
“We have an individual who . . . hasn’t been presented with any prior incidents of violence, prior incidents of this type of behavior, that would make him ineligible, based on that factor,” Varela said.
After Judge Varela’s ruling, TRR spoke with Eric “Mancow” Muller, who’s embroiled in a demanda por difamación brought by MacDonald. Muller also is one of two people who claim that MacDonald told him he wanted to contratar a un asesino a sueldo. The other is Emanuel “Manny” Bucur, MacDonald’s former bodyguard and a marine.
“I personally believe James MacDonald, based on my personal knowledge, is very dangerous,” Muller said. “I wish I could have mentioned in that hearing how I had gone to the police and informed them MacDonald had wanted me to hire someone to commit murder. And my friend, Manny the Marine . . . he’s said the same thing.”
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And we wonder why California is messed up!
this isn’t a “california” thing, this is a “rich white man bought an expert witness to say what he wanted” thing.
violent white men always get the benefit of the doubt. always.
Very true Manler. We need to put McDonald in a Fed Ex HUGE container send him back to Canada. Julie Roys very sorry that you have to put up with this imposter creep, hopefully hiring security for you might be necessary, given his actions
This is nothing but an unsupported, ideologically charged assertion.
She did, however, note that MacDonald had been in treatment for mental health issues multiple times, which have “been unsuccessful.”
That is one of many diagnostics symptoms of a narcissist. The narcissist thinks they know more than the therapist and quit therapy. Not a symptom of PTSD.
Wow, I guess the prosecution is being a bit lazy by not finding a history of violence. Maybe in February they will present something? My gosh I remember James flipping out if he saw you sleeping in service. He embarrassed you in front of the whole congregation! You don’t have to search real hard to find acts of his past that were questionable
Very lazy! It doesn’t take much to find out all about his out of control temper! He hurt so many! Shouldn’t they look into why he was fired from a church???
The “no history of violence” and “model citizen” descriptors were from his lawyer at a hearing wherein the object was to convince the judge that MacDonald ticked all the boxes for a mental health diversion (as a matter of law). Since he’s never been arrested for a felony before, he’s got no criminal record. So he does satisfy the elements of the statute. The PROOF will be at the hearing. The prosecution will have its chance at the full hearing in late February (if that date holds). My hope is that the prosecution has invested enough resources in a mental health expert to review MacDonald’s prior mental health records and history (which can be done since he put his own mental health at issue) and has its own expert evaluate those records and perhaps evaluate MacDonald himself if the law allows that. Remember he says he has Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) caused by Harvest Bible Chapel Elders and Julie Roys herself! He can’t even own his own problems which is why I am skeptical about his ability to solve his behavioral problems and not harm others again.
Does this mean that she can’t appeal this decision?
The hearing will take place on Feb. 28th, 2024. The victim is not a party to the case. It’s the State of CA. vs. James MacDonald. I hope that this woman has a good personal injury attorney and files suit against James MacDonald ASAP if she has not done so already.
It’s not surprising to me that this is the outcome. Macdonald willfully assaulted the woman and the whole PTSD lie is typical of the greaseball he hired to be his lawyer. Just once if MacDonald could be humble and repentant it would speak volumes. PTSD is a lie in James case. The minion of Satan has caused far more PTSD than he will ever experience. It’s interesting to me the distance Kathy maintains from that beast. She seems done having his back and I thinking there is a book coming that is titled, “My hell with James.”
Too bad that Julie is being blamed for MacDonald’s criminal behavior. Wow! I didn’t know that Julie Roys had that kind of power over grown men, to make them attack other People.
Exactly. James MacDonald is claiming PTSD? Isn’t that what our veterans suffer from (who have faced real horrors in brutal military conflict)? So now James’ trauma due to Julie Roys’ journalistic coverage is being diagnosed as the same affliction as men who have faced horrors in war? And this mere journalistic coverage by Julie Roys caused James to attack and severely wound an elderly woman? Has the entire evangelical world gone stark raving mad? Is anyone still supporting or defending MacDonald?
PTSD, psycopath, narcissist, MK-Ultra or a combination? Satan infiltrated the church long ago.
James CAUSED PTSD in others!
So sad he can claim it for himself and may get away with it.
I wonder if this incident had taken place in Texas what the outcome would have been? California of course is known for its ultra liberal stance on just about anything you care to mention and certainly, includes the functions of the “law”. Of course the victim in this whole thing is the women James beat to a pulp and spent 21 days in the hospital. No mention of what her recourses are under the law, or if she even has any. Blame it on PTSD and Julie Roys, anyone but James McDonald! Mancow is right. James McDonald is dangerous and very dangerous. The pictures of him and his wife Kathy speak volumes and if I were her, I wouldn’t walk next to him either.
He will be back somewhere as a pastor…that’s the way it works.
After a “season” of repentance and counseling ????
I honestly feel like I just read a satirical piece.
The PTSD defence is reasonable. It parallels the kinetics of what TRR has successfully modelled as abuse within Church life; where the effects of that abuse have PTSD-like effects.
However that defence lends itself to thinking that JMcD is narcissistically configured. In not being open to the viewing of himself by others, in being open to always seeing others as responsible for difficulties he is egocentrically encountering, in not being open to personal repentance for his own actions and behaviours, in forcibly reacting to critique of him by others.
The defence sees JMcD move from nominal reliance on his Christian understanding and commitment, to a fairly exclusively secular platform and hermetic. The danger for JMcD here, being: that a nexus of psychological traits (which the article above speaks to), which are not open to psychiatric treatment; will act to undermine the defence argument that the assault was triggered solely by a PTSD dynamic that can be associated with TTR reporting and community and social action following on from that reporting.
The case then offers an opportunity to extend the import and reach of TTR reporting, in a legal process setting.
First of all I wonder how much the judge actually knew of what had been written about this man. Did the judge read Julie Roys’ articles? Doubtful.
Another thing that sticks out to me, if you find out you’ve hurt someone, no matter whether you suffer PTSD, wouldn’t you later be deeply remorseful and deeply apologetic and take responsibility for your actions?
I can’t imagine how it must be for the victim who must be so traumatized, to have the judge turn her attacker into a victim himself thus avoiding appropriate consequences
You always comment and it never makes any sense.
Every smart person looks for a way to stay out of prison.
But a truly moral person wouldn’t. Someone who really had experienced the infilling of a Divine God would be truly penitent.
As I’ve read his statements about this incident, I find his lack of concern for the condition of his victim very telling. From all accounts over the years he seems to only see himself as the one under attack without any kind of self reflective consideration. If he does have PTSD it is the ultimate manifestation of a victim mentality and I find his actions truly ironic as the former leader of the “Act Like Men” movement.
I would like to know what happened that day that would require a woman to be in the hospital 21 days and saddened that she may never see justice served for what happened to her in this lifetime. I also wonder how many of his encounters with people have caused them to have PTSD. Ha!
“I would like to know what happened that day that would require a woman to be in the hospital 21 days and saddened that she may never see justice served for what happened to her in this lifetime. I also wonder how many of his encounters with people have caused them to have PTSD. Ha!” I would like to know too…unbelievable! Can’t believe he could be getting off with such a horrible assault!
I can’t imagine any outcome where he is still permitted to own or operate a firearm after this.
I can. This is America.????
Criminals do not care about the law and own guns. Legally, his PTSD diagnosis can prevent him from legally owning any type of firearm in the US, regardless of the State. Plus, he is Canadian, do not know if he has a green card or has gone through the classes/taken immigration tests to become an American. His wife on the other hand can legally own firearms if her record is clean. G. Gordon Liddy got around his gun owning disqualification conviction the same way.
I’d have thought that MacDonald’s former elders and congregants at Harvest Bible Chapel,as well as former associates in the denomination it used to be, would be better qualified to claim PTSD than MacDonald.
That noted, I guess that having unpalatable things spread about one by our gracious hostess (things I’ve checked out to a degree and found true) could be traumatic, but something in me resists the notion that having facts spread about you ought to be seen as a defence for a criminal investigation.
I simply could not resist the temptation to return and post an additional thought. Now we know why James McDonald behaves the way he does. It’s Julie Roys fault! It’s Harvest Bible Chapel’s fault! Now we know why! However, I wonder if there is a way to get James past history of behavior to the judge so he can, at least, see the pattern of violence and abuse that emerges, and make an informed decision. But even then we must remember that it is not his fault! What a pile of (blank)!!!
We are behind you Julie! Now to James. If you have a problem with other peoples view if you in public, then don’t read it. Even if this PTSD argument is real, how can the judge not distinguish the difference between PTSD triggered by online content as compared to a real life situation with a real person? I wish we could all his previous victims could show up to the next hearing as witnesses. That would speak volumes.
Wow. A front row seat to DARVO in action. You can’t make this stuff up. The crazy thing is they really believe it.
Once he “endures hardship” and walks away from this he’ll be invited to be a lead conference speaker @ Mark Driscoll’s current church. No doubt he’ll be pointed to as an example of “real” masculinity by Mark.
Wow! In his statement, MacDonald actually mentions Julie as part of the reason why he has developed mental health problems. Julie’s investigative work over the years must have certainly ruffled his feathers. If I remember correctly, MacDonald once called Julie a “Gossip Sl.t” when she texted him to find more about a matter concerning him. Great investigative work, Julie.
MacDonald will always try to portray himself as the victim to avoid consequences. Only a narcissist would do this. I feel so bad for the lady that he attacked. And he should, too! It should never have happened, but after it did, he needed to acknowledge his behavior and seek her forgiveness with true repentance and humbleness. He can never seem to own anything he does against anyone, but if someone appears to attack him (real or perceived), he is right there to accuse and berate them.
Thank you, Julie, for true transparency and honest journalism. We are all grateful!
He missed his true calling of teaching DARVO. He is now the “victim” and the woman he hit is the cause of his behavior.
Unreal…yet not surprised to read about MacDonald’s ‘defense’ or ‘plea’ or whatever you wanna call it. Just when you think it’d be hard to imagine this man could be any more of a snake or slime ball than he already is . . .
I would hope that the prosecution, or whoever is representing the lady attacked by JMcD, takes the time to do some cross-checking googling of JR-TTR-JMcD. Such that the view of JMcD being offered in this comment stream (and it thereby pointing to views of JMcD available elsewhere), is put before the adjudicating Judge, as he considers JMcD’s offered PTSD defence.
Colin B,
JMD has spent the past several months scrubbing his website/social media of his 5 part JR expose, his opinions of her, but do not know if he has cleared out his Twitter ramblings (and threats against her), because it has been down for months.
Do not know if someone, who has saved all of his online conduct (including the video of him getting into the face of a member of the congregation and screaming at them) and sending it in, would do any good, since the judge has already ruled.
I noticed this and truly hope and seriously pray for justice to come in this situation
The judge has not already ruled. The hearing on whether MacDonald satisfies the statutory requirements for a mental health deferral for his violent crime will be held on Feb. 28, 2024. He satisfies 2 of 4 of them. The main one at issue at hearing is whether his now ADMITTED mental disorder (PTSD) played a significant factor in his crime. It will be James’ burden by clear and convincing evidence to show that it did. That means expert testimony regarding PTSD. I sincerely hope that the state takes this seriously and gets an expert to say that PTSD did not make him attack this woman people. It’s an insult to those who legitimately cope with war or abuse trauma.
Through her reporting, I am sure Julie Roys, who ALWAYS brings receipts (but downloads them before she posts, LOL) has all of them which involve her reporting. Specifically, when James involved her, she continued to report on it and his Twitter rants against her. It was then I concluded that not only was he troubled, he was unhinged and not in touch with reality. I hope the District Attorney in the case reaches out to Julie Roys, or already has, for the information to shine the light on this man’s behavior over time and his true character. Judge Varela needs the facts and James’ true diagnosis. Don’t forget even if he doesn’t get a felony conviction in this case, his victim can still sue him civilly and I certainly hope that she does.
Armenian and African and Palestinian and Asian Christians in their own country being killed for Christ. Amercian evangelical response? a little here and a little there. HOW ABOUT all the mega churches use their money and power to let the elected officials know we as Christians are as important or if more important than the Ukraine and Israel. And the billions in real estate and planes and cars and jewelry can be used to help our brothers and sisters. Nahhhhhhhh. nobody gets any glory doing that. Huh Dove award folks. Amercian evangelicals. You will be held accountable for your lack of interest in doing good with your wealth. pastor in CA I used to respect, before he died said God wanted him to have his two rolls Royce’s. Yeah. Amercian evangelical. You’re a confusing group of people. MATT 7:21-23
Has James finished an approved treatment program? Or is he just free to roam the streets?
I hope the assault victim files a civil suit against JMac and starts a Go Fund me campaign to pay for it. I would contribute.