Insanity plea entered in toddler death case

WAUPACA - A man charged with causing the death of his 2-year-old stepson changed his plea Monday to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. He entered a similar plea in another child abuse case, as well.As a result, Joseph Jackson was ordered to undergo a psychiatric exam, according to online court records.No trial date has been set. A status conference is scheduled for April 7. Jackson is charged with first-degree reckless homicide.By using the so-called insanity plea, Jackson is claiming he shouldn't be held criminally liable for the crime due to his mental condition during the May 25 incident.According to the criminal complaint, Jackson admitted holding the boy’s face down on a bed, to try to get him to stop crying. The boy stopped breathing and died.If convicted, Jackson could spend up to 60 years in prison.There’s also another case involving Jackson. In June, he allegedly pushed another stepson to the ground following an argument with his wife. That child suffered scrapes. Jackson entered the insanity plea in that case, too, Monday.