Judge slaps accused MATC stabbing suspect with new restrictions

MILWAUKEE -- Police say he stabbed his ex-girlfriend countless times at MATC's downtown Milwaukee campus. Now, prosecutors say he's making that pain worse; apparently trying to contact the victim since the attack.

Escorted by police and dressed in an orange jumpsuit on Friday, September 21st, Ruben Casarez took a seat before a judge.

Police say Casarez stabbed his ex-girlfriend Irene Johnson in the neck several times. It happened in the hallway of an MATC building.

The criminal complaint says police found Johnson laying in a large pool of blood. She had cuts and stab wounds to her hands, arms, neck and torso. She told police her ex-boyfriend "went crazy."

Prosecutors now say Casarez has tried to contact Johnson several times from jail.

"Ms. Johnson is extremely upset by this, so was her family. She's under a lot of stress and these continued contacts certainly do not help in her recovery," said the prosecutor.

Casarez sat with his head down and his leg shaking on Friday. The judge is now taking away all phone and mail privileges in jail because of his attempts to contact the victim.

This is not the first time Casarez has been ordered to stop contact with Johnson. In March, Johnson filed a restraining order against him. She says he would threaten, harass and physically abuse her. Casarez was arrested four days after it was filed. 

Casarez did enter a plea on Friday -- not guilty by reason of mental disease. The next step for him is to be examined by a doctor.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

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