On Point blog, page 29 of 68

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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Trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to testimony about recorded conversations in Spanish between the defendant and the victim

State v. Adamis Figueroa, 2013AP47-CR, District 1, 12/3/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

Trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to object to the testimony of a police department employee about the content of two recorded conversations in Spanish between Figueroa and J.R., who alleged Figueroa had sexually assaulted her several years ago, when she was a child. (During one conversation J.R. wore a wire and spoke with Figueroa in person;

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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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Failure to impeach witness with mental health condition. Failure to request WIs. J.I.-Criminal 245 on accomplice testimony. Interrogation — Miranda custody; interrogator’s comments on truthfulness

State v. Deandre J. Bernard, 2012AP750-CR, District 4, 10/17/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

Trial counsel’s failure to impeach witness with mental health condition was not prejudicial

Trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to impeach the credibility of a witness who testified that Bernard told her “I think I killed a boy.” Bernard argued the witness suffers from a mental condition that affects her perceptions and recollections and that trial counsel should have requested access to the witness’s mental health records and used the records to impeach her.

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State v. Jessica A. Nellessen, 2012AP150-CR, petition for review granted 10/15/13

Review of published court of appeals decision; case activity

Issue (composed by On Point)

Was Nellessen entitled to an in camera review under Wis. Stat.§ 905.10(3)(b) to determine whether an informant may be able to give testimony necessary to a fair determination of the issue of guilt or innocence, when the defendant claims she was unaware there were controlled substances in the trunk of her car,

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State v. Muhammad Sarfraz, 2012AP337-CR, petition for review granted 9/17/13

Review of published court of appeals decision; case activity

Issue (composed by On Point)

Does Wis. Stat. § 972.11(2)(b)1. bar evidence of prior consensual sexual activity between a defendant and complainant in a case involving alleged forcible criminal conduct because the consensual conduct is not relevant to a material fact in the case?

Petitions for review are not electronically filed,

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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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