MISSOULA, Mont. — A Missoula man who attacked a Special Olympics athlete with a baseball bat, causing a severe head injury, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with eight years suspended.
KTMF-TV reports Paul Ekstedt was sentenced Friday for the June 14 attack on Gary Fuller.
Police say a witness told them that she, Ekstedt and Fuller were on their way to dinner when Ekstedt struck the victim on the head, knocking him to the floor.
Fuller underwent emergency surgery, and his father said he was on a ventilator for a time.
Witnesses said there had been no argument but that Ekstedt had been acting strangely for the previous 10 days. A chemical dependency evaluation diagnosed him with a methamphetamine use disorder, and his attorney said Ekstedt has bipolar disorder.