Three weeks before he was to go on trial in Northampton for assaulting 2 women at UMass, Gorahkov was arrested in Rhode Island as part of a statewide anti-child pornography sweep.
Luther Gorahkov
NORTHAMPTON - A former University of Massachusetts student who last week was found innocent by reason of mental illness to charges that he assaulted two woman at the Amherst campus in 2010 was arrested last month in Rhode Island during a state-wide child pornography sweep.
Luther Gorahkov, 25, of 23 Ray St., Providence was found not responsible for the Amherst charges after Judge C. Jeffrey Kinder ruled Gorahkov was innocent by reason of mental disease or defect. He had been charged with assault with intent to rape, kidnapping, and annoying or accosting a person of the opposite sex. His May 2 ruling brought to an end a two-day trial.
A psychologist, testifying for the defense, said Gorahkov has bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
Gorahkov, formerly of Amherst, was transferred to Worcester State Hospital last week following the ruling for an observation period of up to 40 days.
Gorahkov is awaiting trial in Rhode Island on charges of possession and transfer of child pornography.
He is one of nine people arrested April 12 as part of a multi-agency anti-child pornography sweep that was coordinated by the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
He was scheduled to appear in court in Providence on Monday, less than a week after Kinder issued his ruling. His trial in Rhode Island on those charges will likely be delayed while his mental health is being evaluated in Massachusetts.
Prosecutor Matthew Thomas said he was aware Gorahkov was arrested Rhode Island. He used the information of his arrest to motion the court to revoke his right to bail in the Amherst case, but the motion was denied.
Thomas said Gorahkov will be held for up to 40 days for the mandatory evaluation, and depending on the results, he could be detained even longer.
“If he is still considered a danger after his evaluation period then he will continue to be held and his case will be reviewed periodically thereafter,” he said.