Judge rules in favor of Daniel Wildman on four defense motions

District Court Judge Margaret Lingreen has ruled in favor of four motions filed on behalf of accused attempted murderer Daniel Wildman of Cresco.

Wildman's attorney had asked the court to pay for forensic testing on the 12-gauge shotgun allegedly used by Wildman to shoot at a group of people outside a house in Calmar last October.  However, the defense attorney had also asked that the tests be done using the shotgun shells police seized as evidence when they arrested Wildman.  That request was denied. 

Another motion asked permission to hire someone to prepare sketches as exhibits in the trail--a motion that Judge Lingreen approved, setting a $300 spending limit.  Lingreen also allowed fees for a previously hired defense expert to exceed the $5,000 limit by another $2,600.  And the judge approved spending up to $750 to hire an expert witness to testify about the effect of narcotics.  Wildman had earlier filed an innocent plea to the five criminal charges filed against him, saying "Intoxication by drugs" prevented him from making good decisions.

Judge Lingreen has set 11:00 a.m. Tuesday for another hearing, this one on Wildman's request that his bail conditions be modified.