COLORADO SPRINGS — The man accused of killing three people at a Planned Parenthood clinic proclaimed he was a “warrior for the babies” and said he was guilty, shocking a packed courtroom Wednesday.

El Paso County prosecutors filed 179 counts — including eight charges of first-degree murder — against Robert Lewis Dear Jr. An additional 131 counts of attempted first-degree murder and charges of assault, burglary and criminal mischief were filed in connection with the Nov. 27 attack.

Prosecutors said they may file additional charges as the investigation continues.

During his first in-person appearance in El Paso County District Court, Dear, 57, made dozens of outbursts declaring his guilt, accusing his attorneys of trying to drug him and exclaiming, “Kill the babies! That’s what Planned Parenthood does.”

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs police Officer Garrett Swasey was killed after he responded to a call for help from the clinic. Ke’Arre Stewart, 29, and Jennifer Markovsky, 35, also were killed.

Dear was arrested after a standoff with police that lasted more than five hours. Twelve people were injured, nine of those by gunfire. Five of those injured by gunfire were law enforcement officers; all of them have been released from the hospital.

With his hands and feet restrained, Dear twisted in his chair so his back was facing people in the gallery. He did not look behind him at the victims’ families in the courtroom.

Less than four minutes into the hearing, Dear interrupted his attorney, public defender Daniel King. King, who was part of the team that represented Aurora theater shooter James Holmes, did not acknowledge the outbursts.

“I am guilty, there’s no trial. I am a warrior for the babies!” he shouted at King.

Looking at King, Dear shouted: “Do you know who this lawyer is? He’s the lawyer for the Batman shooter that drugged him all up, and that’s what they want to do to me.”

As Chief District Court Judge Gilbert Martinez was issuing a gag order for law enforcement and attorneys, Dear accused defense attorneys of hiding the “truth.”

“The babies that were supposed to be aborted that day, could you add them to that list?” Dear said.

Public defenders Kristen Nelson and Rosalie Roy leaned toward Dear during his outbursts. At one point, a sheriff’s deputy had to place his hand on Dear’s shoulder and calm him down.

“You’ll never know what I saw in that clinic! The atrocities! That’s what they want to seal! The babies!” Dear shouted.

King asked the judge to order prosecutors to promptly provide them with evidence so the defense team can “learn the depth of Mr. Dear’s mental illness.” Prosecutors had not “disclosed one piece of evidence,” King said.

Dear interrupted, “You’re trying to silence me.”

King told the judge, “I think the problem is obvious, Your Honor.”

Because defense attorneys have “serious concerns about competency,” King asked the judge to delay setting a preliminary hearing. During the preliminary hearing, prosecutors will present evidence they believe support the charges in the case.

King said he was not confident that Dear was competent to make decisions about his rights. Neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys requested a competency evaluation on Wednesday.

But 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May asked Martinez to move forward and either require Dear to waive his right to have a preliminary hearing in 35 days or set the hearing.

Martinez took a short break before ruling.

Before the judge returned to the courtroom, King leaned over the defense table to speak with Dear.

Dear seethed at King.

“I know what you’re trying to do. It’s not going to work,” he said.

Martinez addressed Dear directly when he took the bench. He advised him of his right to have a preliminary hearing within 35 days.

“Planned Parenthood and my lawyer are in cahoots because they don’t want the truth out,” Dear told the judge.

He went on, “I’m not going to agree to mental health evaluations so they can’t put me on psychotropic drugs so I can’t talk like the Batman guy.”

“Are you finished?” Martinez asked.

“Yes,” Dear said.

The judge denied May’s request to set the preliminary hearing and instead set a status hearing for 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 23.

Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794, jsteffen@denverpost.com or @jsteffendp