No jail time for woman who bit off husband’s tongue (UPDATE)

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SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin woman accused of biting off part of her husband’s tongue will serve no jail time.

Karen Lueders of Sheboygan had been charged with felony mayhem for allegedly biting the tongue while suffering a manic episode Dec. 6.

She and prosecutors finalized a plea agreement Tuesday and Sheboygan County Judge L. Edward Stengel followed the recommendations. He found Lueders guilty of committing the offense but not guilty due to her mental state.

The $5,000 she posted as cash bond will be returned to her minus court costs.

The Sheboygan Press reports that attorneys from both sides agreed the action was a result of her mental disorder. The judge ordered Lueders to undergo continuing outpatient treatment.

Friends said the 57-year-old had stopped taking her medication, an action that led to manic episodes in the past.

Police were called to the couple’s home by her 79-year-old husband William Lueders, who used “uh huh” to communicate with a 911 dispatcher. According to a criminal complaint, officers found Karen Lueders carrying a New Year’s horn in her hand and singing Christmas carols outside the house.

In a written statement, Willard Lueders told police he went into the bathroom while his wife was on the toilet Dec. 6. When he leaned over to kiss her, she went into a “manic state,” grabbing his genitals and biting his tongue.

William Lueders has recovered and is able to speak clearly. A judge gave the couple permission to continue living together, and they have appeared at court appearances holding hands.

Information from: The Sheboygan Press, http://www.sheboygan-press.com