On Point blog, page 12 of 24

Video of robbery taken by private surveillance camera was properly authenticated

State v. Robert Vincent McCoy, 2012AP2583-CR, District 1, 1/7/14; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

An armed robbery outside a bar was caught on the security camera of a nearby homeowner, who gave a copy of the video to the police by uploading it on YouTube and emailing it to the police. The video was used to identify McCoy and then “burned” to a DVD  and played at his trial.

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Court rejects argument that waiver of counsel was involuntary because it was not “free from financial constraint”

State v. Gregory Garro, 2013AP342-CR, District 1, 12/27/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

Garro waived the right to counsel before trial after two retained lawyers withdrew because he couldn’t pay them. (3). Garro told the court he couldn’t afford the fees quoted by the lawyers, but did have some money to hire counsel. (4). After being given time to look for a lawyer he could afford,

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Do dentures distort breathalyzer test results?

State v. Mark K. Schrick, 2013AP1166-CR, District 4, 12/27/13 (1-judge decision, ineligible for publication); case activity

Actually, this case concerns more than just dentures.  A jury convicted Schrick of operating a vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration in violation of §346.63(1)(b). On appeal, Schrick challenged (1) the trial court’s decision to deny his motion for a directed verdict, (2) the sufficiency of the evidence supporting his conviction, and (3)  a jury instruction saying that by statute the administered breath test was considered accurate. 

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State v. Luis M. Rocha-Mayo, 2011AP2548-CR, petition for review granted

Review of per curiam court of appeals decision; case activity

Issue (composed by On Point)

Whether Wis.  Stat. § 343.303, which bars the admission of certain preliminary breath test results in motor vehicle prosecutions, applies to PBT results obtained by Emergency Room staff?

Issue (again, composed by On Point)

WIS JI- Criminal 1185, which is based upon § 885.135(2g)(c), permits a jury to find a defendant was intoxicated at the time of an accident if it is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant’s alcohol level was 0.08 or greater.  

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Passing mention of prescription drug didn’t taint OWI trial

State v. Jeffrey M. Halida, 2013AP1298, District 2, 11/13/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

Halida was arrested for OWI after a motorcycle accident. In response to routine medical questions asked before the blood draw, he told the officer he took two Oxycodone pills earlier that day for a hand injury. (¶¶4-6). The officer’s reference to Halida’s statement at trial was not prejudicial because “[i]n view of the record,

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Erroneous admission of other acts evidence was harmless; letter written by attorney to victim at defendant’s behest was properly admitted

State v. Jeffrey A. Adamczak, 2013 WI App 150; case activity

Admission of other acts evidence

Adamczak was charged with sexual exploitation by a therapist in violation of Wis. Stat. § 940.22 for having sexual contact with Sabrina. He testified the contact occurred, but only after the patient-therapist relationship was over. (¶¶3, 5). Before trial the state moved to admit the testimony of Sarah and Gail,

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Evidence of citizen complaints against arresting officer was not admissible to impeach officer’s truthfulness

State v. Richard P. Hessil, 2013AP944-CR, District 2, 10/23/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

Hessil, charged with resisting an officer, disorderly conduct, and failure to obey a traffic officer, unsuccessfully moved to admit evidence of citizen complaints and police employment records to cast doubt on the arresting officer’s character for truthfulness, citing Wis. Stat. §  904.04(2). The evidence Hessil sought to admit included allegations of theft from an arrestee,

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Right to confront and present evidence; probative value of evidence outweighed by prejudicial effect, § 904.03

State v. Damon R. Lowe, 2012AP555-CR, District 2, 9/18/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

Lowe, charged with sexual and physical abuse of V.A.L., his adopted daughter, sought to present evidence that she was motivated to fabricate her allegations because she wanted to get away from her overly strict father, who restricted her use of cell phones, her internet use, and her choice of friends.

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More on probable cause to arrest for OWI

State v. George R. Ferrell, Appeal No. 2012AP2602, 9/26/13, (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

A state trooper does not need evidence such as odors, admissions or containers to have probable cause to arrest for OWI.  These facts will do the trick:

 ¶12 . . . [T]he State Patrol received several reports that Ferrell was driving erratically and dangerously.  Thiede observed that Ferrell was speeding and watched Ferrell swerve within his lane. 

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Court of Appeals reverses 1st degree intentional homicide conviction based on State’s violation of § 904.10

State v. Raphfael Lyfold Myrick, 2013 WI App 123; case activity

Wow!  District 1 is really on a roll.  Twice in less than one week they’ve reversed a conviction for first-degree murder.  Last Friday it was State v. Wilson, 2011AP1803, a summary reversal and hence not summarized by On Point.  Wednesday, it was State v. Myrick, the subject of today’s post.

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