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<p>A lawyer for Melissa Ann Scholl requested a mental health evaluation for his client at a bail reduction hearing on Wednesday.</p><p>Attorney Lawrence Kansky in a phone interview on Friday said that although District Judge Michael Dotzel refused to reduce the $500,000 bail amount, he is providing an opportunity for her evaluation and possible transfer to a mental health facility.</p><p>In a phone interview, Kansky said he argued that bail is not meant to be punitive, but to be a means to ensure the defendant&#8217;s future appearances and to protect the community.</p><p>In regard to flight, Kansky said Scholl, who he described as destitute, would not leave the jurisdiction simply because she had nowhere to go.</p><p>In regard to the safety of the community, Kansky said he believed Scholl never had any intent to harm anyone.</p><p>Charged with two counts of attempted homicide after investigators say they found her in her car in the Williams Bus Line parking lot at 532 Blackman St. with a hose visible between the car&#8217;s exhaust pipe and the passenger area on Dec. 9, Kansky said, Scholl&#8217;s action were simply a cry for help.</p><p>&#8220;There was no carbon monoxide found in the car,&#8221; he said. &#8220;The children were taken to the hospital and they were fine.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;She had been in an abusive relationship, with supporting PFA documentation to prove it,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Her actions and a phone call to her mother were simply a way of her asking for help.&#8221;</p><p>Kansky said that Scholl had also tried to reach out to other agencies, but didn&#8217;t get the help that she needed.</p><p>Scholl now has telephone contact with her children and is requesting visitation, according to Kansky.</p><p>&#8220;I believe she should have visitation, of course, with the condition that they would not talk about the case,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Kansky said he believes this is an opportunity for Scholl to get the help that she needs.</p><p>&#8220;With severe abuse like this,&#8221; he said, &#8220;depression is something that can be expected.&#8221;</p><p>The case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 15.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Melissa Scholl of Blackman St Wilkes-Barre. 12/9/2015 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_TTL121015scholl1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Melissa Scholl of Blackman St Wilkes-Barre. 12/9/2015 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Lawyer wants mental health evaluation for Melissa Ann Scholl