On Point blog, page 237 of 262
Sentence Review
State v. Jeffrey D. Knickmeier, 2011AP368-CR, District 4, 11/25/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); pro se; case activity
The court upholds the sentence – 2, concurrent 6-month jail terms for theft by bailee – of disbarred attorney Knickmeier. The court patiently discusses each of Knickmeier’s challenges to sentencing discretion (some of which, to be blunt, seem frivolous), and concludes:
¶12 In summary,
Traffic Stop – Reasonable Suspicion (OWI); Detention to Administer FST
State v. William M. Hughes, 2011AP647-CR, District 4, 8/25/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Hughes: Michael C. Witt; case activity
Traffic stop supported by reasonable suspicion to believe Hughes was operating while intoxicated:
- The stop occurred at night, after a football game, when there is an increased frequency of drunk driving;
- Citizen informant reported observing vehicle weaving outside lane of travel on Interstate,
TPR – Summary Judgment on Grounds
Rock Co. HSD v. Timothy F., 2011AP1354, District 4, 8/25/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Timothy F.: Carl W. Chessir; case activity
The court rejects Timothy F.’s challenge to grant of summary judgment as to grounds for termination (abandonment, § 48.415(1)(a)2.): even if Timothy arguably had “good cause” for not visiting his child (Timothy had absconded from probation in fear of possible revocation),
Reasonable Suspicion / Probable Cause – OWI – Collective Knowledge Doctrine
State v. Bridgette M. Glaze, 2010AP3128-CR, District 2, 8/24/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Glaze: John C. Orth; case activity
Although Glaze’s stop by one officer investigating possible domestic violence was likely unsupported (¶9), the stop was adequately supported by an alternative basis: observations of a second, off-duty officer which, under the “collective knowledge” doctrine were imputed to the first officer and supplied reasonable suspicion that Glaze was driving while intoxicated.
OWI – Breathalyzer Results, Jury Instructions
County of Ozaukee v. David W. Berend, 2011AP291, District 2, 8/24/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Berend: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity
Breathalyzer test results are admissible (and presumptively accurate) in OWI and PAC proceedings if “the sample was taken within 3 hours after the event to be proved,” § 885.235(1g). Berend’s test was administered at 11:07, and he said he’d stopped drinking at 8:00.
Line-Up
State v. Jose A. Reas-Mendez, 2010AP1485-CR, District 1, 8/23/11
court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); for Reas-Mendez: Andrea Taylor Cornwall, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; case activity
The victim’s pretrial lineup identification of Reas-Mendez isn’t suppressible: the lineup was comprised of “four men, all of generally the same build, in the same type of clothing, with dark, shoulder-length hair, approximately of the same age, and wearing bandanas covering their faces from the tops of their noses down,”
TPR – Removal of Element from Jury – Closing Argument, Misstatement, Interest of Justice
Florence County Department of Human Services v. Jennifer B., 2011AP88, District 3, 8/19/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Jennifer B.: Martha K. Askins, Shelley Fite, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Removal from jury consideration of a ground for termination (CHIPS orders) without prior discussion between court and parties was error:
¶10 While we agree that a directed verdict is available in the grounds phase of a TPR proceeding,
OWI – Property “Held Out to the Public”
County of Winnebago v. Matthew J. Miller, 2011AP661, District 2, 8/17/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Miller: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity
Experimental Aircraft Association Air Venture grounds were sufficiently “held out to the public,” for purposes of OWI-related liability, because the EAA granted substantial access to the public via purchased passes.
¶7 The analysis in Tecza is most analogous to this case.
TPR – Sufficiency of Evidence; Oral Instructions: Timing; Counsel – Presence, Return of Verdict
Kevin G. v. Jennifer M. S., 2009AP1377, District 4, 8/17/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Jennifer M.S.: Susan E. Alesia, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity
Evidence held sufficient to support termination for failure to assume parental responsibility, § 48.415(6)(a), applying “totality-of-the-circumstances test” where “the fact-finder should consider any support or care, or lack thereof, the parent provided the child throughout the child’s entire life,” Tammy W-G.
Confrontation – Chain of Custody, Lab Test
State v. Richard Dean Boyer, 2011AP305-CR, District 1, 8/16/11
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Boyer: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity
OWI trial, where the chemist who analyzed the blood sample testified, but the person who drew the sample didn’t: the court rejects Boyer’s argument that his right to confrontation was violated by his inability to cross-examine the person who drew the blood.