Posted on November 10, 2022 in Criminal Defense

When you get your driver’s license in Wisconsin, you agree to follow the rules of the road and that includes commands and directions given by a police officer. If you approach a stop sign, you must stop. If a police officer asks you to get out of your car, you must do so. And most people know that trying to escape from a pursuing police officer can get you in big trouble. But what if you are listening to loud music on a sunny day and do not see the lights or hear the siren? What if you were getting pulled over in a notoriously unsafe place? If you have been charged with fleeing/eluding a police officer, contact a criminal defense attorney right away.

Fleeing/Eluding Police Officers Is a Class I Felonies in Wisconsin

If a driver does not pull over after a police officer gives the driver an audio or visual signal to do so, the driver could be charged with fleeing/eluding a police officer. Charges for fleeing/eluding a police officer are usually brought after someone tries to get away from a police officer by engaging in a risky high-speed chase, or by trying to hide.

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 Posted on October 27, 2022 in Criminal Defense

In the state of Wisconsin, reckless driving can be prosecuted as a criminal offense. It is defined as operating a vehicle in a careless or negligent manner, which endangers the safety of others. If you are convicted of reckless driving, you could face significant penalties, including fines and possible jail. In this blog post, we will discuss what reckless driving is, the penalties for a conviction, and some defenses to consider if you are charged with this crime.

Understanding the Offense of Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is prohibited by Wisconsin Statute 346.62, which provides that "No person may endanger the safety of any person or property by the negligent operation of a vehicle." In order to be convicted of reckless driving, the prosecution must prove that you were operating your vehicle in a manner that showed a disregard for the safety of others. This can be proven through circumstantial evidence, such as the way you were driving, what you said to the police, or even your demeanor at the time of your arrest.

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 Posted on October 19, 2022 in DUI/OWI

If your child has just been charged with underage OWI in Wisconsin, you may be feeling a range of emotions, from shock to anger to worry. It's important to know that there are consequences for underage drinking and driving, but there are also ways to minimize the negative impact of an OWI on your child's life. Here is what you need to know about the penalties for an underage OWI in Wisconsin and what you can do next.

Penalties for an Underage OWI in Wisconsin

The penalties for an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) conviction for an underage person in Wisconsin depend on the facts of the case, but they can range from a fine to jail time. If your child is convicted of an underage OWI, they may face the following penalties:

• Fines of up to $500

• Suspension of their driver's license for up to six months

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 Posted on October 13, 2022 in Criminal Defense

Being accused of domestic violence can be a very frightening experience. Your entire life can be affected, just based on the allegations that you were violent or abusive toward a family member. If you have been charged with domestic violence in Wisconsin, it is important to understand the possible defenses that may be available to you. An experienced defense attorney can help you navigate the criminal justice system and protect your rights.

Wisconsin’s Mandatory Arrest Laws

When the police respond to a domestic violence call in Wisconsin, they are required to make an arrest under certain circumstances. Specifically, an officer shall arrest a person that the officer reasonably believes has committed or is committing domestic abuse, the person’s actions constitute a crime, AND one of the of the following is true:

• The officer believes that continued abuse is likely against the alleged victim.

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 Posted on October 06, 2022 in Criminal Defense

In Wisconsin, driving is a privilege, not a right. This means that the state can take away your ability to drive for a number of reasons, including being convicted of traffic violations. With some offenses, you may lose your driving privileges on the first infraction, and with others, you can receive several tickets before you lose your license. Losing your ability to drive often means that your ability to work and attend to personal responsibilities may be compromised. If you determine that your driver’s license may be at risk of suspension, you should contact a skilled attorney so that your rights can be protected.

Appointed Lawyers and the True Cost of Traffic Violations

When the crime you are accused of is punishable by imprisonment, the state will provide you with a public defender. However, many traffic violations are not punishable by imprisonment, so if you want legal counsel, you must retain a lawyer yourself. Also, many people prefer hiring a private defense attorney, as public defenders are often overworked, underpaid, and unable to dedicate the necessary attention to each case they are assigned.

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 Posted on September 27, 2022 in Criminal Defense

Few offenses are treated as seriously by police, prosecutors, and judges as sex crimes against children. Even violent crimes, in general, do not result in the same emotional determination to find, prosecute, and punish those who hurt and victimize children. This a lesson that a Wisconsin man is about to learn the hard way—so to speak—as he was recently sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for child sex trafficking.

A Series of Disturbing Events

A 36-year-old man from Rhinelander was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison last week. The man had already pleaded guilty to “sex trafficking of a child under the age of 14 years old.” According to news reports, court documents, and a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the plea deal resulted in similar state-level charges in Marathon and Lincoln Counties being dropped.

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 Posted on September 15, 2022 in Criminal Defense

If we are being honest, we have all made decisions and done things that we are not proud of, and some might have even led to rather unfortunate results. Relatively few of us, however, have ever done something that might lead to a police chase. Frighteningly enough, this is exactly what happened last week in Milwaukee, when four teenagers allegedly stole a car and led police on a chase that ended in a late-night crash.

A Scary Situation

According to police and new reports, four teenage boys were taken into custody in the early hours of the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. The boys were arrested for allegedly stealing a car and attempting to evade Milwaukee police. The chase ended near 27th and Nash when the car that the boys were in collided with another vehicle.

Representatives from the Milwaukee police say that the driver of the allegedly stolen vehicle was a 15-year-old boy. The other occupants of the car were all males, including another 15-year-old and two 14-year-olds. The police say that vehicle was taken in a robbery and that a firearm was found in the vehicle after the accident. All four were taken into police custody pending a decision on criminal charges from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office.

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 Posted on September 08, 2022 in Criminal Defense

Thanks to television, movies, and pop culture in general, you probably know that if you are ever arrested on suspicion of having committed a crime, you have the right to remain silent. But do you know why you have this right or why arrestees are reminded that they have it? If you are not 100% sure, you are almost certainly not alone. Many misconceptions and misunderstandings exist about the series of statements that are commonly referred to as a criminal defendant’s “Miranda rights.”

What Are the Miranda Rights?

We have all seen it on TV: A suspect is arrested and read their Miranda rights. However, it is more accurate to call them Miranda “warnings” or “reminders.” The specific wording may vary slightly, but reading a suspect their rights involves four distinct statements and one question.

The four statements are a reminder that:

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 Posted on August 29, 2022 in Criminal Defense

If you have ever been arrested and charged with a crime, you probably know that there is a great deal of uncertainty that goes along with facing the Wisconsin criminal justice system. Each case is unique, as it is dependent on the specific circumstances of a given situation, but many cases tend to follow at least some similar patterns.

Starting with your initial charges, your criminal defense lawyer will develop a strategy for defending you, which might include going to trial or negotiating a plea deal. If you are found guilty or plead guilty in accordance with your plea agreement, the judge overseeing your case must decide on a sentence. Certain circumstantial factors could put you at risk for more serious penalties, and it is helpful to know what they are.

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 Posted on August 18, 2022 in DUI/OWI

Even if you have never had it happen to you, you probably have a pretty good idea about what it might feel like to be pulled over after having a few drinks. You see the flashing lights in your mirror, and your stomach drops. By the time the officer gets to your window, the nerves have probably started, but you want everything to go smoothly so you can get home without incident.

As you expect, the officer asks whether you have been drinking. You acknowledge that you did have a couple earlier in the night. Then, the officer asks you to take a breath test. Do you have the right to refuse?

What the Law Says

Under the law in Wisconsin, you give your “implied consent” to chemical testing for blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) by driving your vehicle on the highways and streets of the state. Specifically, you consent to such testing when requested by the officer in certain situations or when required by law.

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