Committed to the state: Man accused in jailhouse brawl not guilty by reason of mental disease

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 43-year-old Leopoldo Santos-Fernandez -- accused of trying to slash his roommate's throat, and then getting into a jailhouse brawl with correctional officers has been found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

Santos-Fernandez was facing a felony first degree intentional homicide charge.

In court on Tuesday, June 17th, Santos-Fernandez pleaded no contest to the charge, and waived his right to a jury trial.

A court trial was initiated, and a doctor testified on Santos-Fernandez behalf.

The court found Santos-Fernandez not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, and he was ordered into the custody of the state's Department of Health Services.

Santos-Fernandez will be transferred to a DHS mental institution when a bed becomes available.

Santos-Fernandez has been committed to DHS for a maximum of 60 years.

Three corrections officers were injured inside the Milwaukee County Jail while attempting to restrain Santos-Fernandez on the morning of February 25th, 2014.

Surveillance video released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office shows Santos-Fernandez throwing punches and lunging toward several corrections officers.

Santos-Fernandez allegedly crossed over into the officers' work area during breakfast.

Santos-Fernandez was accused of refusing to return to his cell and becoming combative.

An officer is seen in the surveillance video deploying his taser, but it didn't stick.

One officer was treated for a torn tendon in his arm. One suffered a scratch to his face and the other an injury to his forearm.

At the time of this incident, Santos-Fernandez had been in custody since May of 2013.

According to a criminal complaint, Santos-Fernandez allegedly tried to slash his roommate's throat with a kitchen knife.

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