Homicide suspect to be institutionalized

+ click to enlarge Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Joshua P. Johnson, seated beside attorney Jared Redfield during a hearing in Shawano County Circuit Court Wednesday, was ordered placed in a state mental institution for an evaluation of whether he is competent to stand trial on a charge of homicide. Johnson is accused of murdering his father in Wittenberg in February.

By Tim Ryan tryan@shawanoleader.com

A man accused of brutally murdering his father in February was ordered Wednesday to be held at a state mental institution while he is evaluated to determine his competency to stand trial.

Joshua P. Johnson, 20, faces life imprisonment on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly killing his father at their Wittenberg home Feb. 21.

Donald P. Johnson, 53, ultimately bled to death after being shot, beaten and repeatedly stabbed, according to the report of a forensic pathologist.

"The degree of violence involved is something we've never seen before, as far as I'm concerned, in this county," Shawano County District Attorney Greg Parker said at the younger Johnson's initial court appearance in February. "There are things in the (criminal) complaint that are just shocking."

An autopsy found eight separate stab wounds to the neck and head, multiple lacerations and small skull fractures, stab wounds to the chest, fractured ribs and a gunshot wound to the hand and face.

Johnson has already pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, but a competency evaluation will determine whether he is capable of assisting in his own defense.

Johnson called the Sheriff's Department to report the murder of his father immediately after it happened. According to the complaint, Johnson made comments about having killed himself or having attempted to kill himself and asked the dispatcher if she could see him through the TV.

Johnson later told deputies he felt "relief" when he realized his father was dead, according to the complaint.

A psychological evaluation by Dr. Michael Galli recommended Johnson be placed in a secure setting in the mental health system for his competency exam.

Circuit Court Judge James Habeck agreed with the recommendation and the joint request from prosecution and defense that the competency evaluation go forward.

Wednesday's hearing was a continuation of a status conference that began Monday, but which was postponed while the court awaited a supplemental report from Galli.

Parker said at Monday's hearing that Galli "believes the defendant is still psychotic," and said there was a question as to whether Johnson was competent to stand trial.

Johnson's attorney, Jared Redfield, told the court Monday he believes Johnson is competent to assist in his own defense, which he said was borne out by Johnson's full cooperation with authorities.

Redfield also said Johnson was suffering from a "very severe mental illness" and could not be treated at Shawano County Jail, where Johnson was being held on a $ 500,000 cash bond.

Habeck's order Wednesday means Johnson will be transferred to either the Winnebago or Mendota mental health institute, depending on available space.

Another status conference was scheduled for May 15 to review the results of Johnson's competency evaluation.

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