On Point blog, page 23 of 37
Sentencing – Burden to Show Inaccurate Information
State v. Jason C. Walker, 2010AP83-CR, District 3, 11/2/10
court of appeals decision (recommended for publication); for Walker: William E. Schmaal, SPD, Madison Appellate; BiC; Resp.; Reply
¶1 Jason Walker was sentenced after revocation of his probation. The sentencing court considered probation violations that Walker denied committing. Because of his denial, Walker argues the court could not consider the violations unless the State proved he committed them.
Jury Instructions; Ineffective Assistance; Record on Appeal; Self-Defense
State v. Morris L. Harris, 2009AP2833-CR, District 1, 10/13/10
court of appeals decision (3-judge, not recommended for publication); for Harris: Gary Grass; BiC; Resp.; Reply
Lesser-Included Instruction – Battery
Harris not entitled to instruction on simple battery as lesser included of substantial battery; the medical evidence established without contradiction that the victim suffered a fractured rib, therefore no reasonable jury could have acquitted him of the greater offense,
State v. Shantell T. Harbor, 2009AP1252-CR, Wis SCt rev granted 9/22/10
decision below: unpublished; for Harbor: Joseph E. Redding; court of appeals briefs: BiC; Resp.; Reply
Issues (from Table of Pending Cases):
Whether a defendant presented a new factor entitling sentence modification (See State v. Franklin, 148 Wis. 2d 1, 8, 434 N.W.2d 609 (1989).
Whether a defendant demonstrated ineffective assistance of counsel under Strickland v.
Probation Search
State v. Seneca Joseph Boykin, 2009AP2499-CR, District 2, 9/22/10
court of appeals decision (3-judge, not recommended for publication); for Boykin: Mark A. Schoenfeldt; BiC; Resp.
A probation agent may not evade the warrant requirement by acting as a “stalking horse” for the police in conducting a warrantless search of a probationer’s residence, ¶10. In this instance, probation officer Navis, acting on reliable information that Boykin was using and selling cocaine,
Sentence – Factors – Exercise of Constitutional Right; Sentence – Effective Assistance of Counsel
State v. Sabian L. Yunck, 2009AP3020-CR, District 1, 8/17/10
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Yunck: Byron C. Lichstein; BiC; Resp.; Reply
Sentence – Factors – Exercise of Constitutional Right
Convicted of violating a domestic abuse order forbidding contact with the mother of his child, Yunck argues that sentence was impermissibly based on his exercise of a constitutional right,
Sentencing – Factors
State v. William Webber, 2010AP9-CR, District 3, 8/17/10
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Webber: Chris A. Gramstrup; BiC; Resp.
On charges of 4th degree sexual assault and obstructing, the sentencing court properly considered, as both aggravating and mitigating, Webber’s 30-year history as a law enforcement officer, as well as his nonconsensual videotaping of his ex-wife.
Judicial Bias – Sentencing after Revocation
State v. James Robert Thomas, No. 2010AP332-CR, District III, 7/27/10
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Thomas: Steven D. Phillips, SPD, Madison Appellate; BiC; Resp.; Reply
The sentencing court exhibited objective bias, requiring resentencing, when it imposed the maximum on sentencing after revocation, given the court’s threat when it placed Thomas on probation to do just that if his probation were revoked.
Sufficiency of Evidence Review; Reverse Waiver; Sentence – Exercise of Discretion
State v. Carl Morgan, 2009AP74-CR, District III, 7/20/10
court of appeals decision (3-judge, not recommended for publication); for Morgan: Ralph Sczygelski; BiC; Resp.; Reply
Sufficiency of Evidence Review
Review of a denied motion for dismissal at the close of the prosecutor’s case-in-chief is waived where the defendant proceeds to put in a defense. All the evidence, including the defense presentation,
Sentencing – Review – Reliance on Race or Gender
State v. Landray M. Harris, 2010 WI 79, reversing unpublished decision; for Harris: Michael K. Gould, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; Resp. Br.; Reply; Amicus
¶3 We agree with the State and reject the reasonable observer test created by the court of appeals. Sentencing decisions are afforded a presumption of reasonability consistent with Wisconsin’s strong public policy against interference with a circuit court’s discretion.
Sentencing – Accurate Information; New Factor
State v. Michael J. Grabowski, No. 2009AP2118-CR, District I, 7/7/10
court of appeals decision (3-judge; not recommended for publication); for Grabowski: Jamie F. Wiemer; BiC; Resp.; Reply
Sentencing – Accurate Information
¶5 Grabowski argues that the circuit court sentenced him based on inaccurate information. A defendant claiming that a sentencing court relied on inaccurate information must show that: (1) the information was inaccurate;