'Social Demon' Gets 25 Years in Prison for Walmart Stabbing

Anthony D. Peters, the in February inside the in Saukville, was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years of prison and 20 years of extended supervision.

Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Tom Wolfgram told Peters that the only signs of remorse the judge had seen throughout the case was over the fact that Peters was unsuccesful in killing Fosco. Wolfgram added Peters often seemed to use his time in court to brag about his crime.

On March 21, Peters appeared in the courtroom in connection with the case and said: "I don’t even really care. Honestly, at the first chance I get — I’d kill the son of a bitch. I told him the first time I see him, I’d kill him."

District Attorney Adam Gerol, who prosecuted the case, said Peters was a "social demon," and that his violent actions were 100 percent intentional.

"Rather than taking the opportunity to do the correct thing and say the right thing, (he has) used whatever opportunities he's had before this court to do something completely different," Gerol said. "And that has been to threaten the victim, to apologize only for not killing Mr. Fosco and to otherwise, as much as possible, paint himself as some sort of social demon."

Peters' attorney, Adrian Renner, told Wolfgram that while Peters may suffer from a variety of mood disorders and display rather anti-social features, he also suffered from abuse and a "chaotic" environment as a child.

Peters, 28, was born in 1982; his dad died in 1983, and his mother abused him from a young age, Renner said. He spent time with his grandparents, but it appears those relationships were not too positive, either.

"Since he was very young, there have been some innappropriate and negative influences on him," she said. "I think this is difficult, because, on the one hand, Mr. Peters can be very engaging and very compassionate. On the other hand, he has a side of his personality that is just completely opposite of that."

In fact, Renner said, she agreed with Peters' great aunt's statement that Peters never really stood a chance in life. Peters suffers from seizures and it has never been made clear whether those may have taken a mental toll. He was in and out of school, and ultimately did not receive a high school diploma.

Wolfgram found it interesting that Peters does not have a juvenile record, but also noted that Peters has stated that as an adult, once he started committing crimes, he just felt it was right — and didn't want to stop.

Peters has a criminal record that includes a variety of other crimes such as disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property, carrying a concealed weapon and use of a dangerous weapon.

"There aren't many offenses that are more serious than this, other than accomplishing the means that you sought in this case," Wolfgram said, "and that is killing Mr. Fosco. ... Your intent here was obviously killing Mr. Fosco — and that would have been the result if it weren't for the fact that he received prompt and appropriate medical care that saved his life."

Peters encountered Fosco in the beverage aisle of Walmart by chance and stabbed him in the abdomen. Fosco stumbled to the express checkout lane, Gerol said, bleeding along the way, where someone was able to give him medical attention while waiting for emergency personell to arrive.

Peters had little to say about his actions on Tuesday, but did speak up to make sure his different opinions were heard.

"You have Mike Fosco painted as an angel with a halo on his head and wings and all that," Peters said. "I've known the guy for a couple years now, and he's no angel — and that's all I got to say."

In addition to his sentence, Peters will have to pay restitution to the victims for medical bills and other expenses incurred as a result of his crime, though the exact amount was not given in court.

After spending 25 years in prison, he will be released on 20 years of extended supervision on the condition that he not contact Fosco or anyone in Fosco's family, or come near the Fosco's residence. He must also maintain complete sobriety, take all prescribed medications and adhere to all counseling or treatment as deemed appropriate and will not be allowed to possess any weapons.

Fosco appeared in court on Tuesday with friends and family, but declined to make a statement in the courtroom. Tearful discussion took place among the group before the trial, but claps and gratitude were given to Wolfgram as he read Peters' sentence.