On Point blog, page 11 of 17
§ 940.42, Attempted Intimidation of Witness – Elements – Sufficiency of Evidence: Addressing Parent of Child-Witness
State v. Alvin M. Moore, 2006 WI App 61, PFR filed 3/21/06
For Moore: Donna L. Hintze, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue: Whether an effort at dissuading a child witness which was directed at the child’s mother satisfies the elements of attempted intimidation of a witness, § 940.42.
Holding:
¶10 To prove attempted intimidation of Tamika, the State was required to prove that: (1) Tamika was a witness;
§ 940.42, Attempted Intimidation of Witness – Multiplicity: Multiple Counts, Same Witness
State v. Alvin M. Moore, 2006 WI App 61, PFR filed 3/21/06
For Moore: Donna L. Hintze, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue: Whether separate counts are supported for attempted intimidation of the same witness, representing each separate letter sent by the defendant to the witness imploring her not to testify against him.
Holding: Multiple counts are permissible, at least where each count is based on distinct facts,
Resisting, § 946.41 – “Lawful Authority” – Initially Unlawful Act by Police Doesn’t Preclude Conviction for Defendant’s Subsequent Conduct
State v. Anna Annina, 2006 WI App 202
For Van Hout: Robert R. Henak
Issue/Holding: Although police entry into the defendant’s house was pursuant to a search warrant later declared to be invalid, the defendant’s acts in response to that entry amounted to disorderly conduct which did allow for an arrest under lawful police authority; defendant could therefore be convicted for resisting a lawful arrest for disorderly conduct,
§ 948.03(3)(b), Physical Abuse of Child by Recklessly Causing Bodily Harm – Element of Recklessness
State v. Quentrell E. Williams, 2006 WI App 212
For Williams: Eileen A. Hirsch, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue/Holding: Because “recklessly” causing harm to a child, § 948.03(b), is determined solely from an objective point of view, evidence related to whether the actor “subjectively thought his [disciplinary action] was reasonable parental discipline” is irrelevant, including evidence of how the actor was him or herself disciplined as a child,
Using Computer to Facilitate Child Sex-Crime, § 948.075(3) – Elements – Sufficiency of Evidence
State v. Dennis Charles Schulpius, 2006 WI App 263
For Schulpius: Bridget Boyle
Issue/Holding:
¶10 … The subsection has two elements: (1) the defendant must have done something that shows that he or she had, as phrased by § 948.075(1), the “intent to have sexual contact or sexual intercourse” with someone whom he or she believed, or had reason to believe, was younger than sixteen,
§ 948.095, Sexual Assault by School Instructional Staff – Elements
State v. David R. Kaster, 2006 WI App 72, PFR filed 4/26/06; prior appeal: 2003 WI App 105
For Kaster: Robert R. Henak
Issue/Holding: Kaster’s prior appeal held that school staff need not be under contract for purposes of § 948.095; providing voluntary services at the time of the alleged assault suffices. This prior holding did not, the court now resolves, expand the scope of the statute so as to deprive Kaster of fair notice of the proscribed conduct:
¶7 Here,
Arrest – Test for Custody – Suspect Held in Locked Room More Than Five Hours
State v. Cesar Farias-Mendoza, 2006 WI App 134
For Farias-Mendoza: Randall E. Paulson, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate
Issue/Holding: A suspect who had agreed to be transported to police headquarters for questioning was arrested within the meaning of the fourth amendment once the police left him unattended for over five hours in a locked room:
¶23 We disagree with the State’s conclusion. While a defendant is not automatically seized anytime he is taken to a police station for questioning,
Attenuation of Taint — Statements — After Illegal Arrest
State v. Cesar Farias-Mendoza, 2006 WI App 134
For Farias-Mendoza: Randall E. Paulson, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate
Issue/Holding: The “causal chain” between the defendant’s illegal arrest and his statement wasn’t attenuated where: he gave the statement within 25 minutes of the circumstance establishing the arrest, ¶¶28-29; there were no intervening circumstances, ¶¶30-31; and, there were suggestions of purposeful misconduct, ¶¶32-34.
Consent — Acquiescence — Generally
State v. Jed A. Giebel, 2006 WI App 239
For Giebel: Robert E. Bellin, Jr.
Issue/Holding:
¶12 The test for voluntariness asks whether consent was given in the “absence of actual coercive, improper police practices designed to overcome the resistance of a defendant.” State v. Clappes, 136 Wis. 2d 222, 245, 401 N.W.2d 759 (1987). In making this determination, no single factor is dispositive.
Consent — Acquiescence — Assertion of Subpoena
State v. Jed A. Giebel, 2006 WI App 239
For Giebel: Robert E. Bellin, Jr.
Issue: Whether Giebel’s “consent” to a search of his computer, in response to a police claim of a subpoena and accompanied by an expression that Giebel assumed he had no choice, was voluntary or mere acquiescence to asserted police authority.
Holding:
¶17 Three considerations weigh heavily in our decision.