MONROE — The area man accused of first-degree attempted homicide in the stabbing of his mother last Spring is progressing in his mental health treatment but only recently was able to get a bed at the state’s Mendota mental health facility.

Following the incident, Ryan Gregory Lewis, 29, last November accepted a guilty plea by reason of insanity, and the judge ordered him to spend at least the next 20 years potentially at a locked mental health facility.

He was in Green County Circuit Court Friday, though, for an update on his progress before Circuit Judge Thomas Vale. A psychiatrist, Craig Schoenecker of Milwaukee, said via video link that its early in his treatment, but that Lewis is progressing and may be able to be released in the future if his current treatment trajectory continues.

“The second piece is if he demonstrates that he is applying what he is learning from treatment,” Schoenecker told the court.

The process was slowed somewhat, according to District Attorney Craig Nolen, while Lewis had been languishing in Green County Jail, waiting for a bed at Mendota. In the local jail he had access to maintenance mental health medications but not the kind of intensive mental health treatment he requires, Nolen said.

The original incident began when police were called to the 900 block of 24th Street just after 5:30 a.m. on April 14 for a report of a man attacking his 63-year-old mother with a knife. According to published reports about the criminal case against him, Lewis approached his mother in the kitchen before the alleged violence and said “I love you mom, I am sorry. I love you but I got to do this.”

When a second son — a 32-year-old man, according to police — intervened in the alleged attack, the brother with a knife fled in a vehicle. Just over a half hour after the incident, police tracked down and arrested Lewis. 

The mother and second son were both injured in the attack but recovered, police said. 

The mother and victim in the case, Kim Lewis, was in court Friday and said her son simply needs treatment for lingering mental health issues.

“I support my son and he is getting better,” she said.

Despite being committed for 20 years, Lewis has the right to petition the court to reevaluate his situation and treatment progress after 6 months. 

If he had pleaded guilty to the original attempted murder charge, it could have resulted in a potential 60-year sentence in state prison.