Lawyer withdraws from Wis. starved teen case

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The lawyer for a Madison man accused of torturing and starving his teenage daughter has quit the case.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports Dane County Circuit Judge Julie Genovese allowed William Hayes to withdraw from Chad Chritton’s case. Hayes initially represented Chritton privately but became court-appointed in October.

Hayes wrote in a motion to leave the case that it was causing him deep financial harm. Genovese on Tuesday authorized the county to pay Hayes about $16,000.

A jury last month convicted Chritton of child neglect but deadlocked on counts of reckless endangerment, causing mental harm to a child, child abuse and false imprisonment. Prosecutors say they plan to retry him on those counts.

Genovese ordered Chritton to find a new attorney immediately.