Man pleads guilty in attack on Milwaukee mayor last summer at Wisconsin State Fair

Man pleads guilty in attack on Milwaukee mayor

MILWAUKEE — A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday to beating Milwaukee’s mayor when he intervened in a domestic dispute at last summer’s Wisconsin State Fair.

Anthony J. Peters turned on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in August when the mayor tried to stop an argument between Peters and his daughter’s grandmother outside the fairgrounds, authorities said.

Peters and Barrett exchanged punches before Peters pulled out a metal club and hit Barrett several times, leaving the mayor with head, mouth and hand injuries, according to the criminal complaint.

Peters didn’t speak in court Tuesday except to answer a number of yes-or-no questions and enter guilty pleas. His defense attorney said afterward that Peters decided to plead guilty to acknowledge what he had done.

“He recognizes that he committed the crime and he wanted to accept responsibility,” attorney Anthony Cotton said.

In a deal with prosecutors, Peters pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless injury, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of bail jumping.

In return, prosecutors dismissed two other bail-jumping charges and a theft charge. Prosecutor Mark Sanders also agreed to recommend a nine-year prison sentence, followed by 10 years of extended supervision and two years of probation.

The judge will consider the recommendation at the July 23 sentencing hearing but he is not bound by it.

Barrett wasn’t in court for the plea hearing. His office released a statement saying he won’t comment until the sentencing.

Cotton said Peters also would address the court then.

Peters suffers from several mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and a bipolar disorder, Cotton said. Peters initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but Cotton said he changed his mind to bring an end to the case.