Posted on December 12, 2022 in Criminal Defense

People get traffic tickets all the time, and usually, they just pay them without thinking carefully about how the consequences of a ticket on their record could affect them in the future. But if this happens to you, it is often worth your while to think twice before simply paying the ticket; first, because you might be surprised by how easy it is to fight and beat a traffic violation; and second, because the consequences of a violation on your record may be more serious than you think. If you have been charged with a traffic violation, talk to a Wisconsin traffic violation attorney before using your hard-earned money to pay that ticket. Here are four good reasons why you should contest a traffic violation.

You May Be Able to Get a Better Deal

Depending on the seriousness of the charges against you, you may want to explore options like pleading to a lesser offense. For example, reckless driving is not set at a certain speed in Wisconsin; rather, if an officer subjectively believes you were driving dangerously given the conditions, you could face serious fees and even prison time. Contesting a ticket may allow you to plead to a lesser offense or get the charges dropped altogether.

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 Posted on November 30, 2022 in Criminal Defense

Many people who are accused of crimes wonder whether they can represent themselves in court. There are many reasons for this, including a lack of the ability to pay for a criminal defense attorney, a lack of trust in the public defenders, or a desire to rely on one’s own independence and understanding of the law. While any of these options may be tempting, ultimately representing yourself in a criminal case is a seriously risky endeavor. If you are considering being your own defense attorney, read this before you make the decision to represent yourself and go to court, potentially negatively impacting your life for many years.

Am I Qualified to Represent Myself in Criminal Court?

The Constitution of the United States of America protects every American citizen’s right to represent themselves in court. However, the Constitution recognizes that this is such a difficult endeavor that it also protects each person’s right to have a public defender appointed to them if they cannot pay for one themselves. Furthermore, a judge is required to make sure that a defendant is intellectually competent of understanding what it means to represent themselves, including the ability to read and understand the law.

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 Posted on November 16, 2022 in Criminal Defense

People who are accused of crimes very often feel threatened by police, investigators, and prosecutors who are eager to secure a conviction and who may not necessarily care whether the person they are accusing is, in fact, responsible for the crime. Investigators may try to pressure someone into answering questions without their attorney present, and prosecutors may give the impression that they have enough evidence to secure a conviction, whether they really do or not.

That being said, when the evidence suggesting the accused is guilty is overwhelming, especially if the accused has a long criminal history, taking a plea bargain can be a good way to minimize fines, time in jail, and the charges that will go on his record. The only way to know for sure whether taking a plea deal is a good idea is by first meeting with an experienced Wisconsin criminal defense attorney.

What Are the Benefits of Taking a Plea Bargain?

Most people who take a plea bargain do it because they get a less severe sentence and a lighter charge. For example, if you have been accused of transporting drugs across state lines with the intent to distribute, which is a potential felony, you may be able to get the charges reduced to misdemeanor possession. You may also be able to save money on the cost of hiring legal representation throughout the course of a criminal trial.

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 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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