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February 16, 2011

Man Who Shot TV Over Bristol Palin’s Dancing Preps A Mental Defect Defense

The Wisconsin man who was so upset by Bristol Palin's success on “Dancing with the Stars” that he blasted his TV set with a shotgun yesterday pleaded not guilty to criminal charges and indicated that he will mount a defense based on the claim that he has a mental disease or defect.

Steven Cowan, 67, entered the plea Tuesday during his arraignment in Dane County Circuit Court. Cowan, pictured at right, faces charges of reckless endangerment and failure to comply with law enforcement officers, both felonies. He was arrested in mid-November following a 15-hour standoff with police that began when his wife summoned cops after Cowan shot the television.

According to a criminal complaint, Cowan was angry because “a political figure’s daughter was dancing on this particular show when Steven did not think that she was a good dancer.”

Dane County Assistant District Attorney Robert Kaiser told TSG that Cowan’s use of a mental disease or defect defense would have to include proof that he suffered from a diagnosable mental disorder, and that he “wasn’t just a guy pissed off at his TV.”

TAGS

Dancing with the Stars, Bristol Palin

Comments (16)

Submitted by Expat on Mon, 2011-02-21 06:31.
I know how he feels everytime I see the kardashians on TV I urinate on it.
Submitted by GeorgeKingfishS... on Fri, 2011-02-18 17:37.
Bristol Palin has that effect on some folks. Personally, I just change the channel is a Palin is on the airwaves.
Submitted by IMATE 12236969 on Fri, 2011-02-18 16:24.
I’m a Second Amendment supporter, NRA member but this nut does NOT need to own a firearm! Come on its DWTS!—who gives a rats ass?
Submitted by RickBooker on Fri, 2011-02-18 14:24.
"will mount a defense based on the claim that he has a mental disease or defect" Must be a bleeding heart liberal
Submitted by ThisGuyy on Fri, 2011-02-18 10:41.
If I feel like shooting my TV I'll damned well do it, and it's nobody's business. If it's YOUR TV, then there's a problem. This guy is a victim of a nutty wife.
Submitted by IMATE 12236969 on Fri, 2011-02-18 16:27.
I agree he has the right to shoot his TV but dude—he had a 15 hour stand off with law enforcement—he’s a nut and they need to take his guns away!
Submitted by ThisGuyy on Mon, 2011-02-21 12:52.
Yea, you're right. Any standoff with police is a sign of craziness, definitely someone I wouldn't care to know.
Submitted by ofatmarine on Thu, 2011-02-17 23:50.
I couldn't be on the jury since I think he IS insane for being a socialist, but deserves punishment for wanting Obama's higher taxes, trillions of dollars of debt, and government coercion.
Submitted by Darth Vader on Thu, 2011-02-17 17:13.
He's 67 leave the poor old guy alone, besides who cares if you blow up your own TV. I am sure there are some real criminals out there that the cops and DA can go after.
Submitted by chilepepper99 on Thu, 2011-02-17 15:43.
The fact that he's got a mental defect should be obvious to anybody........
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