Inmate shot at hospital regains consciousness

By Mike Johnson of the Journal Sentinel

Waukesha - The Waukesha County Jail inmate who was shot Nov. 6 after he attacked a sheriff's deputy at Waukesha Memorial Hospital now is apparently awake and alert after having been unconscious since he was shot, his attorney said in court Tuesday.

Steven P. Lettenberger, 44, of Waukesha had been in a medically induced coma after he was rushed into surgery after being shot in the upper torso.

Lettenberger apparently was alert enough Tuesday morning to invoke his right to an attorney when a detective attempted to speak with him, attorney Alex Flynn told Waukesha County Circuit Court Commissioner Martin Binn during a hearing on two unrelated criminal cases pending against Lettenberger.

Flynn also said he attempted to meet with Lettenberger at the hospital on Tuesday, but Waukesha city police would not let him.

Deputy District Attorney Stephen J. Centinario Jr. told Binn that Flynn's request to meet with Lettenberger likely was denied for security reasons. He said extra police officers need to be present before a meeting can occur.

Shortly after Tuesday's court hearing, Flynn said he was allowed to see Lettenberger at the hospital.

"He appears alert, lucid and recovering," Flynn said.

As recently as Friday, Lettenberger remained unconscious even though medical personnel had discontinued the medication that induced the coma, District Attorney Brad Schimel wrote in a letter to Judge Donald Hassin.

Schimel's letter was written in response to request by Flynn that asked Hassin last week to grant access to Lettenberger and prohibit authorities from questioning Lettenberger without an attorney present. Flynn took court action after twice being denied access to Lettenberger.

Hassin granted the request, but also gave the district attorney's office an opportunity to respond to Flynn's request. A hearing on the matter is set for Dec. 1.

In the letter, Schimel stated that Lettenberger remained unconscious on Friday even though medical personnel discontinued the medication that had induced the coma.

"Medical personnel further advise that the defendant's liver is not functioning properly and there is grave concern for his survival," Schimel wrote.

According to court records, Lettenberger was charged in Waukesha County in August with bail jumping, being armed with a firearm while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon.

On Nov. 2, Lettenberger was transported under guard from the jail to Waukesha Memorial for treatment, court records show.

On Nov. 6, a nurse told the deputy guarding Lettenberger that the hospital had cleared Lettenberger to return to jail.

The attack occurred about 3 p.m. that day. According to court records:

Lettenberger's restraints were removed so he could use the restroom. He came out of the restroom and went behind his hospital bed and got a knife.

Lettenberger moved toward the deputy and stated that he was not going to go back to jail.

The 51-year-old deputy, who is not identified in the court records, repeatedly ordered Lettenberger to stop. As the deputy was backing out of the hospital room he told the Lettenberger he would be forced to shoot him if Lettenberger did not move back.

Lettenberger raised the knife in an aggressive manner and got to within 3 feet of the deputy. At that point, the deputy fired a single shot, which hit Lettenberger and caused him to drop to the ground, court records say.

Court records do not say what type of knife Lettenberger had or where he obtained it.

No criminal charges have been filed yet in the attack on the deputy.