The Wisconsin teenager accused of stabbing and running over a girl in Beaver Dam last month has entered a treatment program after posting bond on Monday, according to his attorney.
17-year-old Dylan Lenz is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the Oct. 15 incident that left the victim with life-threatening injuries. He’s accused of stabbing the victim multiple times with a box cutter while they were inside his vehicle in the parking lot of the Beaver Dam Walmart and then hitting her with his vehicle after she got out of it.
In a statement to News 3 Now, Lenz’ attorney, Chris Van Wagner, said his client “has gone directly into treatment, where he will remain per the professional advice of his medical providers.”
Lenz will not be attending work or school at this time, Van Wagner added.
Van Wagner’s full statement reads:
Following the recent arrest of teenager Dylan Lenz, there has arisen a good deal of concern in his own hometown. The purpose of this statement is to share some information and ask people to take a step back.
First, please remember that Dylan is only 17 years old.
Second, please keep in mind that he is presumed innocent and has only been accused. An accusation is not evidence nor is it a conviction. In our civilized justice system – the best one the world has yet devised – punishment follows conviction, not accusation. All things in time if they are the right things; rushing to judgment does no one any good and conflicts deeply with our bedrock principles of criminal justice. Attacking people online behind digital screens helps no one.
Third, because we believe in both the presumption of innocence and the right to fair treatment, it is perfectly normal for a person to post bond and be released back home.
Fourth, because some have expressed concern, unfounded on our view, that Dylan’s release on bond somehow endangers them, please be assured that Dylan – with the help of his family – has gone directly into treatment, where he will remain per the professional advice of his medical providers. He will not be returning to work or school at this time.
Finally, I remind you that he is under strict restrictions while on bond, and his family deserves their privacy at this time. Please respect their privacy as well as our country’s longstanding, revered and time-tested principles of criminal justice.
Online court records show Lenz has a preliminary hearing in the case on Nov. 17.
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