Mount Horeb man sentenced in fatal baseball bat attack

20 years in prison for Koalton Peterson

MADISON, Wis. — A Mount Horeb man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison in a fatal attack with a baseball bat.

Nineteen-year-old Koalton Peterson earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless homicide and aggravated battery in the death of 20-year-old Ryan Smith, of Fitchburg. Prosecutors say text messages between Smith and Peterson grew heated last November when Peterson couldn’t immediately provide the marijuana that Smith wanted.

Authorities said Peterson goaded Smith into coming to Mount Horeb to fight him. When Smith arrived, Peterson struck him in the head and chest with the baseball bat.

The State Journal said Peterson apologized to Smith’s family in Dane County Circuit Court Monday and asked for their forgiveness.