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Man accused of beating Wis. mayor pleads insanity

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The man accused of attacking Milwaukee's mayor will undergo a mental-health evaluation after his lawyer entered an insanity plea on his behalf Monday to four charges, including first-degree reckless injury.

Anthony J. Peters, 20, of Milwaukee is accused of attacking Mayor Tom Barrett on Aug. 15 after the mayor intervened in a domestic dispute.

Defense attorney Anthony Cotton entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. There are multiple pleas because a trial could be split into two parts — first determining whether Peters is guilty and then whether he is capable of bearing responsibility.

Cotton said Peters has struggled with bipolar disorder and perhaps even schizophrenia.

"There's certainly a long history of mental-health issues," Cotton said.

Judge David Hansher ordered a doctor to evaluate Peters and file a report with the court by Oct. 5.

The criminal complaint against Peters said he was tussling with the grandmother of his 1-year-old daughter when Barrett tried to intervene and call 911. Peters responded by attacking Barrett with a metal object, leaving the mayor with head, mouth and hand injuries, prosecutors said.

Peters is charged with felony counts of first-degree reckless injury and theft and misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and bail jumping.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of 36 years behind bars and a $136,000 fine. Peters appeared in court in an orange prison jumpsuit, his hands shackled at his waist. He did not speak.

Barrett had two teeth knocked out in the attack and needed staples to close a gash on the back of his head. He has undergone several surgeries, and the 55-year-old mayor has said he worries he may never regain the full use of the middle finger on his battered right hand.

The mayor's younger brother, Milwaukee County clerk of circuit court John Barrett, sat quietly during the arraignment. Afterward he said he was optimistic about his brother's recovery, and added that a member of Peters' family had apologized to him during the hearing.

"I'm grateful they felt the need to do so," John Barrett said.

Cotton said Peters' mental-health concerns were not receiving adequate attention in jail.

"He hasn't received his medications and he hasn't seen a doctor," Cotton said. "We've made repeated requests to the jail."

The Milwaukee County sheriff's office, which runs the jail, did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday. Prosecutor Mark Sanders said he was aware of Cotton's concerns and said "anybody in custody ought to have access to health care."

Barrett was elected Milwaukee mayor in 2004 and re-elected last year with nearly 80 percent of the vote. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1992 to 2002.