HANSON PARK — A man accused of groping and sexually assaulting women in Andersonville rejected a plea deal Tuesday and told a judge he is mentally fit to stand trial despite evidence to the contrary.

Willie Wright, 41, appeared before a judge in the county courthouse at 5555 W. Grand Ave. in shackles and a blue jumpsuit. Wright told the judge he was uninterested in the plea deal offered by the State’s Attorney’s Office and insisted he was not mentally ill.

“I ain’t got no mental issues at all, none,” he told Associate Judge Donald Panarese.

The deal, which called for 300 days in prison without early release, was also rejected by Wright. Instead, he opted to go to trial on charges of violating a conditional discharge, battery and public indecency.

Wright has a long criminal history, but the latest charges stem from an alleged attack on a Dearborn Denim employee in October 2018, exposing himself to a female jail guard in August, groping a woman exiting a car and violating a judge’s order to stay out of the Andersonville neighborhood.

“I don’t want the offer,” said Wright, who has already spent 48 days in jail. “It’s something like 300 days. I want a trial.”

Wright’s public defender told the court Wright is likely suffering from borderline personality disorder and depression, saying his client has been “agitated, uncooperative and disruptive.”

RELATED: For Years, Willie Wright Has Terrorized Women In Andersonville, Victims Say. What Will It Take To Stop Him?

The public defender recommended Wright be admitted again to a hospital for another psychological evaluation, and Panarese agreed despite Wright’s wishes.

Wright told Panarese he had already been through two psychological evaluations in the past year.

Court records show Wright has been arrested dozens of times in the last two years. His charges include public indecency, sexual misconduct, lewd exposure, battery and assault.



Wright was taken into custody on Aug. 20 while awaiting his court date after allegedly groping a woman in Andersonville after Panarese had banned him from the neighborhood.

He’s currently being held without bail.

Wright was mostly composed on Tuesday, but on his way out of the courtroom he repeated, “y’all mother f—–s are crazy.”

His next hearing is set for Nov. 22, when his trial date will be set.

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