A Southern Illinois man accused of kidnapping his daughter at gunpoint last summer was ordered to undergo psychological testing to determine his sanity at the time of the alleged abduction.

John D. Moro, 35, of Centralia, was ordered to undergo the evaluation by Jackson County Judge David W. Watt Jr. at a pre-trial hearing Jan. 3.

Jackson County State’s Attorney Michael Wepsiec said he will await the results of the test before determining the prosecuting strategy.

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A couple of psychologists have been appointed to determine whether or not Mr. Moro was insane on the day in question, Wepsiec said. We’re waiting for the report from the psychologists.

Moro is accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter Demetria at gunpoint from Giant City School Aug. 28. He was caught in Ellensburg, Wash., in September after a two-week nationwide search.

Moro is charged with one count each of armed violence, aggravated unlawful restraint and unlawful use of a weapon. The armed violence charge, a Class X felony, carries a penalty of 15-30 years, and the other two charges, both Class 3 felonies, range from 2-5 years each.

A charge of aggravated kidnapping was dropped because of a 1990 court decision stating that a biological parent cannot kidnap his own child.

Moro’s public defender, Patricia Gross, also filed motions requesting a change in venue for the trial and asking that certain types of evidence not be admitted. She was not available for comment Monday.

A date has not been set for the trial.

Moro, who remains in Jackson County Jail, has not been able to post his $150,000 bond.

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