Man accused of slaying UW-Waukesha Grad changes plea
Melissa Haffner
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News
The man being accused for the murder of a recent UW-Waukesha Grad appeared at the Waukesha County Courthouse on Thursday for a second hearing.
David A. Wapp, 29, is the man accused of brutally stabbing Samantha L. Peterson, 21, to death in early September. During the first preliminary hearing, Wapp had entered a plea of not guilty. However, Thursday, Wapp recanted his original plea and entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
A third hearing is set for early December, and in the mean time Wapp will be mentally evaluated by specialists appointed from the prosecution and the defense.
According to Wisconsin Statutes, if Wapp was found to be suffering from mental defect, and a jury finds him not guilty, he would remain in the custody of the state and be assigned to a proper institution to treat his needs, until deemed that he is not a danger to himself or others, at which point he would be released into society. Should the state prove that Wapp, is in fact guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but that he does not suffer from a mental illness and a jury agrees, Wapp could still face up to life in prison.
Wapp is still in custody and is currently being held at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun.
David A. Wapp, 29, is the man accused of brutally stabbing Samantha L. Peterson, 21, to death in early September. During the first preliminary hearing, Wapp had entered a plea of not guilty. However, Thursday, Wapp recanted his original plea and entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
A third hearing is set for early December, and in the mean time Wapp will be mentally evaluated by specialists appointed from the prosecution and the defense.
According to Wisconsin Statutes, if Wapp was found to be suffering from mental defect, and a jury finds him not guilty, he would remain in the custody of the state and be assigned to a proper institution to treat his needs, until deemed that he is not a danger to himself or others, at which point he would be released into society. Should the state prove that Wapp, is in fact guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, but that he does not suffer from a mental illness and a jury agrees, Wapp could still face up to life in prison.
Wapp is still in custody and is currently being held at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun.
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