WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IA-
A Lake Mills man appeared in Winnebago County District Court for a plea change hearing Friday afternoon at the Cerro Gordo County Law Enforcement Center.Prosecutors charged Timothy Patrick Winter, 37, with attempted murder and willful injury in connection with an April attack on his mother Cynthia, 63. at her home. He faced a maximum sentence of 35 years in jail.
Earlier this month Judge Colleen Weiland heard evidence at a competency hearing. Winter told the judge that he understood the changes against him. Another expert witness indicated he was competent to stand trial. Weiland took the matter under advisement.
There had been speculation that the charges against Winter would be upgraded to first-degree murder following his mother’s death on Sept. 28. However following the hearing, Winnebago County Attorney Robert Cooper said Cynthia Winter’s death was of natural causes and was not related to the alleged attack.
According to court records, authorities received a 911 call from Cynthia Winter at 11:22 p.m. on Thursday, April 9 from 311 N. Grant St. in Lake Mills.
When the responding officer entered the home Cynthia Winter was found in her kitchen, bleeding profusely with a large purple bruise on the side of her face. Winter allegedly told the officer that her son struck her several times with an unknown object, according to court documents.
He was arrested April 10 in Minnesota.
On Friday he plead guilty to the lesser charge of willful injury. He admitted to the Judge he struck his mother several times with a hammer with intent to cause her serious injury.
He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. The charge also carries a mandatory prison term of five years.
His sentencing is set for January 22, 2010.
