Women Who Attacked Senator During Protest Could Face Trial

A judge determined Thursday that there is probable cause to send two women facing charges for allegedly attacking a state senator to trial. Senator Tim Carpenter says he was trying to take a picture of protesters in downtown Madison when he was attached back in June. The two women, 26-year-old Samantha Hamer and 33-year-old Kerida O’Reilly are facing charges of party to a crime of substantial battery and robbery with use of force. Hamer is a former Platteville resident who works in the Mount Horeb School District.  Via a video call, a detective with the Madison Police Department answered questions about what happened during the attack. The next court date has not yet been set. The judge ordered that Hamer and O’Reilly not be in the Capitol Square area except to meet with their attorneys.