The Milwaukee Post

By MATT MASTERSON Conley News Service WAUKESHA — A Wauke- sha County Circuit Court judge entered pleas of not guilty for both Slender Man stabbing suspects after defense attorneys stood mute during a brief arraign- ment. Judge Michael Bohren read in the pleas during the Aug. 21 hearing, which was held nearly 450 days after 13-year-olds Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier allegedly stabbed their classmate 19 times and left her in the woods to die. The two girls will be tried together with a trial sched- uled to begin Oct. 15. Both girls stand accused of attempted first-degree inten- tional homicide and face up to 65 years in prison if con- victed in a case that has spent more than a year deal- ing with various mental competency and jurisdic- tional issues. When asked how their clients plead, defense attor- neys for both girls said they would be standing mute — not entering a formal plea — as an objection to their clients being tried as adults. Following dual reverse waiver hearings earlier this summer, Bohren ruled both Geyser and Weier would be tried in adult court to avoid "unduly depreciating" the seriousness of their alleged actions. If adjudicated deli- quent in juvenile court, the girls would be eligible for release into the community at age 16, with extended supervision only lasting for two years beyond that. Donna Kuchler, who repre- sents Geyser with co-coun- sel Anthony Cotton, said she was disappointed with the judge's previous ruling and may go to the Court of Appeals in an attempt to get her client waived into the juvenile system. Maura McMahon, one of Weier's attorneys, said she's unable to make an informed decision on any appeal until she receives a written order from the judge. "(Standing mute) means you are preserving your jurisdictional objections," she said after the hearing. "Until we get the court's written order on the reverse waiver, we are not really in a position to assess if we will appeal or not until we have that written order. "The case moves ahead, but you still preserved your ability to challenge if neces- sary." More delays? Still photography and video of the girls' faces was allowed in court Aug. 21 after Bohren amended a pre- vious order barring such action, saying he is mindful of the need to balance the defendants' constitutional rights with the public's "rights to know." During the arraignment, the judge ordered the October trial date even after Kuchler said she would like- ly be unavailable. Bohren said he wanted to see Cotton — who has been absent for the past two hearings in this case — in court for the start of the trial. While the date has been set, it could still be pushed back if Geyser's attorneys change her plea to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. During the reverse waiver hearings, mental health experts testified both girls suffer from mental illness — Geyser is a diagnosed schiz- ophrenic, while Weier suf- fered from a delusional dis- order at the time of the stab- bing. Weier has since reportedly come to realize Slender Man is not real and has shown remorse for her actions, but Geyser has reportedly refused medication, instead preferring the company of her hallucinations, includ- ing Slender Man and other fictional characters she believes to be her only friends. Geyser was found incom- petent to stand trial briefly last year because of her mental status, and Kuchler said an amended plea would require another battery of evaluations and tests for her client. The Associated Press reported prior to the hear- ing that Cotton said his client would be entering pleas of not guilty and not guilty by mental disease or defect. When asked why that had not happened after the arraignment, Kuchler said Bohren is aware of Geyser's mental background but chose not to include any mention of it when entering the plea. "The court could have entered that plea for us, because the court entered the not guilty plea for us," she said. "The court knows that mental health is an issue." Email: mmasterson@conleynet.com August 28, 2015 • Milwaukee County Post • 3 Michael Sears/Pool photo Morgan Geyser, right, is brought into court by a sheriff's deputy. Michael Sears/Pool photo Not guilty pleas entered for Slender Man stabbing suspects Trial date scheduled for Oct. 15 Anissa Weier is led out of a Waukesha County court- room by a sheriff's deputy on Aug. 21. ❑ Yes, I want my FREE subscription to the Milwaukee County Post mailed to my home every week. (Free delivery available in the following zip codes: 53110, 53129, 53130, 53132, 53154, 53172, 53204, 53207, 53214, 53215, 53219, 53220, 53221, 53227, 53228, 53235. 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