Suspect in Huron murder enters insanity plea

SANDUSKY — A Huron man charged with murder in the Thanksgiving Day death of his brother has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. William Brown Jr., 47, of Willow Drive, had a pretrial hearing Friday in the Erie County Common Pleas courtroom of Judge Tygh Tone. Brown Jr. is accused of killing his brother, Michael Brown, 55, of Sandusky, the night of Nov. 28 inside Brown Jr.'s home. Brown Jr. was arrested outside his home the same night. Brown Jr. had an initial court appearance Dec. 30. His attorney, Christopher Maher of Sandusky's Bailey Legal Group, filed a motion Thursday asking Tone for permission to enter an insanity plea. "Counsel represents that his subsequent investigation of the circumstances of the case and the particular characteristics of defendant William R. Brown Jr. justify this change of plea. The case's prosecutor, Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter, filed a motion stating he would not oppose the insanity plea. Tone gave the defense the go-ahead to enter the insanity plea. Brown Jr. remains in the Erie County Jail without bond. He did not get a new court date during Friday's hearing, court staff said.