Steve Carrier on January 2, 2026
The federal case involving the man accused of stalking WWE star Liv Morgan just took a dramatic turn — and the timing is raising serious questions inside the courtroom.
Shawn Chan, who is facing a federal charge of interstate domestic violence, personally sent a handwritten letter to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on December 20. In that letter, Chan made it clear he was reasserting his constitutional right to a speedy trial and stated he has never waived that right. He also asked the court to deny any future continuances and said he plans to object to delays that are already pending.
The letter, postmarked December 22 and officially entered into court records on December 29, came just days before Chan’s own attorneys filed a notice indicating they intend to pursue an insanity defense — a move prosecutors argue is far too late.
In the December 23 filing under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12.2(b), Chan’s defense team explained why they believe his mental state is central to the case:
“After reviewing the discovery and meeting with Mr. Chan, defense counsel came to believe that additional investigation of his mental status was necessary to defend him on the merits.”
The motion details how defense counsel retained forensic psychologist Dr. Michelle Ayala on September 5, 2025. Although an initial evaluation date was postponed, Dr. Ayala ultimately examined Chan on October 24 and submitted a ten-page report on December 22. Her conclusion was direct:
“Dr. Ayala finds that Mr. Chan suffers from an acute delusional disorder that causes him to believe he is in a romantic relationship with the alleged victim. Dr. Ayala concludes that Mr. Chan was insane at the time of the offense.”
Prosecutors, however, are pushing back hard. They’ve told the court that the defense’s attempt to introduce this argument is untimely and should be ignored entirely. A pre-trial order required all motions to be filed by May 12, and with the trial scheduled for January 12, 2026, prosecutors argue there’s no realistic way to proceed on schedule if this new issue is allowed. The defense insists there’s good cause for the delay, blaming scheduling issues and pointing out that the court’s deadline passed before Chan was formally indicted.
“Counsel acted diligently to investigate Mr. Chan’s mental status,” the motion states. “The delay was caused by Dr. Ayala’s schedule and the need to complete the report.”
The court has ordered prosecutors to formally respond by January 6. Chan is accused of flying from Scarborough, Ontario to Orlando, Florida on May 26 — the same day he was issued a passport — and telling customs agents he planned to stay at the WWE Performance Center, which does not provide housing. According to the criminal complaint, four days later he traveled hours to Liv Morgan’s Florida home, circled the property, entered her backyard, attempted to access the front door, and lingered for several hours before leaving. He allegedly left behind a handwritten note containing his name, phone number, and Canadian address, which read in part:
“It’s me Shawn the guy you all hang out with on [gaming platform deleted] online… I came here to pay just a friendly visit, nothing more… Yea, I just wanted to let you know that I was here.”
WWE security reportedly identified Chan from surveillance footage and alerted authorities. The FBI arrested him on June 3, and he was indicted on June 25. Chan has remained incarcerated since his arrest and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.
The court now must decide whether the case moves forward as scheduled — or if this late-stage legal strategy changes everything.
Do you think the court should allow the insanity defense this late in the process, or should the trial proceed as planned? Let us know your thoughts and drop your take in the comments below.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
January 2, 2026 11:09 am
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