Explore in-depth analysis

On Point is a judicial analysis blog written by members of the Wisconsin State Public Defenders. It includes cases from the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of Wisconsin, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Another unpublished decision holds enhancer time may be used for the extended supervision portion of an enhanced misdemeanor sentence

State v. Emmit L. Groce, Jr., 2013AP844-CR, District 1, 9/4/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

Groce was convicted of criminal damage to property as a repeat offender under § 939.62(1)(a) and given a bifurcated sentence consisting of one year of confinement in prison and one year of extended supervision. (¶¶2-3). He later requested a sentence modification under State v. Gerondale,

Read full article >

OWI — reasonable suspicion for traffic stop and OWI investigation

State v. Tony L. Wyatt, 2013AP728-CR, District 2, 8/28/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

A sheriff’s deputy stopped the car Wyatt was driving after checking the license plate of a car driving in front of the deputy and determining the car’s owner—a female—didn’t have a valid driver’s license. If the deputy didn’t know before the stop that the driver was male, the stop was lawful under State v.

Read full article >

Restitution for theft may include items defendant denies stealing

State v. Deborah A. Schicker, 2013AP651-CR, District 2, 8/21/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

Schicker pleaded guilty to a single count of theft. Of the multiple items listed as stolen in the complaint, she admitted to taking only the two items recovered before she was charged. (¶¶2-3). After a restitution hearing she was ordered to pay for the loss of the unrecovered items as well as for another item (a bracelet) not even listed in the complaint.

Read full article >

OWI — collateral attack on prior conviction; awareness of minimum penalty

State v. Jaime M. Salomon, 2013AP577-CR, District 2, 8/21/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

Salomon collaterally attacked his second OWI conviction under State v. Ernst, 2005 WI 107, 283 Wis. 2d 300, 699 N.W.2d 92, arguing his waiver of counsel in the case was invalid because he was not aware of the minimum mandatory penalty for the offense. The transcript of the plea hearing in the prior case shows Salomon admitted to having read the complaint,

Read full article >

Dog sniff and search of car were unlawful because officer unreasonably extended the duration of the stop

State v. Kenneth C. House, 2013 WI App 111; case activity

House was stopped for operating with a suspended registration. After running House’s license and learning he was on probation for a drug offense, the officer returned House’s license and issued him a warning for the suspended registration. The officer then retrieved his police dog who, after sniffing around the vehicle, alerted on the driver and passenger doors.

Read full article >

Sentencing — exercise of discretion in denying eligibility for ERP

State v. Brandon M. Pokey, 2012AP2412-CR, District 2, 8/14/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

The sentencing court did not erroneously exercise its discretion when it made Pokey, who was convicted of armed robbery of a bank, ineligible for the Earned Release Program. At sentencing the court based its decision on all of the required sentencing factors, not just on the seriousness of the offense,

Read full article >

OWI — probable cause to arrest without field sobriety tests

State v. Scott E. Bartelt, 2013AP110-CR, District 2, 8/14/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

¶1       …. During his investigation of a bar fight, a village of Butler police officer came to the conclusion that Bartelt should not drive home and offered to give him a ride. Bartelt declined the ride, told the officer he would walk home, and walked away. Not twenty minutes later,

Read full article >

Sufficiency of evidence — bail jumping; stipulation to bail status. Self-defense — failure to ask for instruction

State v. Adrian Castaneda, 2012AP1596-CR, District 1, 8/13/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

Sufficiency of evidence to support felony bail jumping conviction

The state and the defense stipulated to the fact that Castaneda had been charged with a felony and agreed the jury would be told only that Castaneda had committed a “crime.” (¶¶3-4, 7-9). A proposed instruction that defined a “crime”

Read full article >

Judicial bias — sentencing after revocation

State v. Anthony M. Teller, Jr., 2013AP502-CR, District 3, 8/13/13; court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication); case activity

The sentencing court exhibited objective bias in the form of the appearance of bias based on its statements at the original sentencing hearing:

¶21      …. The court told Teller he had “bad news” in the form of “a two-year prison sentence coming [his] way,” and, if he came back to court,

Read full article >

Ineffective assistance of counsel — inadequate presentation of defense of misidentification

State v. William M. Grunwald, 2012AP2531-CR, District 4, 8/8/13; court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity

Grunwald was charged with reckless endangerment for kicking Stevens, who was lying on the ground after being beaten by Houghton. Grunwald’s defense at trial was that he was mistakenly identified by eyewitnesses to the incident. After his conviction he alleged trial counsel was ineffective in his presentation of the defense,

Read full article >

On Point is sponsored by Wisconsin State Public Defenders. All content is subject to public disclosure. Comments are moderated. If you have questions about this blog, please email [email protected].

On Point provides information (not legal advice) about important developments in the law. Please note that this information may not be up to date. Viewing this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Wisconsin State Public Defender. Readers should consult an attorney for their legal needs.