Man charged with grabbing woman enters insanity plea

A 39-year-old man accused of grabbing a woman who was walking along a Grafton street by the arm and holding onto her while he asked if she wanted to have sex last month pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease Tuesday to the felony he faces in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

Colin R. Middlekauff entered his plea after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over for trial by Judge Adam Gerol on a charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

Middlekauff is being held in the county jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

According to a criminal complaint, the woman told police officers that she was walking to work along Seventh Avenue at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, when Middlekauff approached her.

She said she recognized Middlekauff as the man who frequently stood outside the Park Ridge Apartments on Seventh Avenue. The woman said she had never spoken to him before, except to possibly say “good morning” as she did to other people she passed, but said Middlekauff had previously made “kissing faces” at her and grabbed his crotch in front of her, the complaint states.

On Aug. 7, the woman said, Middlekauff grabbed her arm with both hands, and while holding onto her asked, “Want to have sex?” according to the complaint.

The woman said she told Middlekauff no four times, but he refused to let go of her arm. She eventually kicked him in the foot and he released her, the complaint states.

The woman said she then called her boyfriend and took two showers that day because of the encounter with Middlekauff.

Officers went to the Park Ridge Apartments and found Middlekauff sitting near the rear entrance. When asked about the woman’s account, he said he “didn’t do it,” but added there was an incident with a woman who was “lipping off” to him, according to the complaint.

The woman identified Middlekauff from a photo array, saying she was certain he was the man who grabbed her, the complaint states.

Not guilty by reason of mental disease pleas typically start a two-step process. First, the court or a jury must determine whether the defendant committed the crimes he is accused of. If he did, a judge, with the help of a psychiatric evaluation, must decide whether the defendant was able to appreciate the wrongness of his acts when he committed them.

A person who is found not guilty by reason of mental disease is committed to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and is either treated and monitored in the community or at a secure mental health institution.

Gerol ordered a psychiatric evaluation of Middlekauff and scheduled an Oct. 5 court hearing.