Judge Determined Man Not Mental Responsible For Firing At Officers

A Sauk County Circuit Court judge has determined a 47-year-old man wasn’t mentally responsible for firing a shotgun at officers in October 2016.  Deputy Mark Rabata was hit in the finger by one of the pellets.  The judge committed William Abate to 12-and-a-half years of outpatient mental treatment by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.  The original charge against Abate was attempted first-degree homicide.  A psychiatrist told the court Abate had been abusing prescription medication and alcohol on the date of the incident.  During a statement to the judge, Abate turned around and apologized directly to Deputy Rabata and the other law enforcement officers who responded that day.