ST. FRANCISVILLE (AP) — A 26-year-old Houma man charged with attempted second-degree murder after ramming the front gate at the state penitentiary at Angola is scheduled for a Dec. 5 motions hearing after pleading not guilty Sept. 19.

The Courier reports (http://bit.ly/18F9rrs) Floyd Tillman is also facing charges of cruelty to juveniles, simple criminal damage to property valued at more than $500, remaining on land after being forbidden and simple trespassing.

Samuel D’Aquilla, West Feliciana Parish district attorney, said Tillman had originally elected not to be represented by an attorney, but Judge William Carmichael appointed one.

D’Aquilla said he anticipates that Tillman’s defense attorney will file a motion to have his mental health evaluated.

Tillman allegedly took his daughters, an 8-month-old and 2-year-old, from Terrebonne Parish on Sept. 8, said Houma Police spokesman Dana Coleman. The children’s mother said she had left them in his care the previous night and called police the following afternoon when she became concerned about their whereabouts.

Tillman drove to the prison, about three hours away, and rammed the prison gate after arguing with guards over getting a tour, prison spokesman Gary Young said. After being told many times that there were no tours that day, Tillman rammed the gate while guards opened fire on him with the children in the car.

Neither of the children was hurt, Young said.