EAU CLAIRE — A judge has ordered a competency evaluation in the case of a man charged with murder.
Anthony Jackson, 44, no fixed address, faces charges of first degree intentional homicide, attempted first degree homicide and two counts of bail jumping. The first two charges carry enhancements for use of a dangerous weapon and being a repeat felon.
At an appearance Thursday, Jackson’s attorney raised the question of whether he can understand the charges and assist in his defense, essential elements to a criminal prosecution. Judge Sarah Harless found there was enough in question to order the hearing, though a date has not been set.
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According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the Do Dodge Inn on Dec. 14 after a report of a fight. While they were en route they were told one person had been stabbed.
When officers arrived a sheriff’s deputy on the scene was holding Jackson at gunpoint. A witness said he and Alex Graff, of Medford, were playing pool when Jackson began acting strangely. He “began yelling at nobody in particular,” the witness told police, and stabbed Graff because he though Graff had laughed at him.
Others in the bar largely backed up that account. Video showed additional verbal interactions between Graff and Jackson before the stabbing, though did not have audio, so it isn’t clear what was said. Those interactions were not aggressive until just before the stabbing. The men did not know each other.
The video showed Jackson stab Graff in the chest and then slash at his back as Graff fled. While he had additional, minor injuries, the knife penetrated Graff’s heart when he was stabbed in the chest, and that proved fatal.
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The attempted homicide charge is based on Jackson’s approach to the witness who was playing pool with Graff. After stabbing Graff, video showed Jackson approach the other man, who struck him in the face with the pool cue before running out of the bar. Jackson’s attempt to stab the man in the back missed.
Jackson’s status as a repeat offender isn’t in doubt. He has eight other open cases for charges ranging from theft to disorderly conduct, and he has been arrested more than a dozen times in the past year.
Jackson is being held on a $2 million bond in the case. Both the homicide and attempted homicide charges are Class A felonies, which could carry a life sentence if he is convicted.
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