On Point

on review of published decision; case activity Issue (composed by on Point)  Whether sentencing reliance on inaccurate information (here, misapprehension of mandatory minimum incarceration) is structural error. Travis pleaded guilty to an offense that all concerned (defense, prosecution, sentencing court) wrongly thought carried a 5-year mandatory minimum (largely due to confusion about the particular offense Travis […]

State v. Robert B. Sonnenberg, 2012AP1025, District 2, 9/19/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Evidence held sufficient to sustain Sonnenberg’s conviction for OWI-1st. He admitted that he drank some indeterminate amount of alcohol before his car had a flat tire and then drank more on the side of the road; […]

Village of Menomonee Falls v. Timothy E. Rotruck, 2012AP1024-FT, District 2, 9/1, District 2, 9/19/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Concededly proper traffic stop; after citations issued, officer sought and obtained consent to search vehicle, resulting in seizure of contraband – court concludes that, under the circumstances, traffic stop had […]

State v. Jose O. Gonzalez-Villarreal, 2012 WI App 110 (recommended for publication); case activity Counsel (Michael J. Knoeller) was present while the police interrogated, and elicited incriminating responses from, his client, Gonzalez-Villarreal. G-V didn’t speak English, and Knoeller doubled as interpreter. The state issued charges, and Knoeller continued to represent G-V. However, the state moved […]

State v. Reginald Scott Williams, 2011AP1379-CR, District 1, 9/18/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity Williams drove at an excessive speed (30+ over the limit), and crashed into another car, resulting in death and serious injuries. He pleaded no contest to one count of homicide by negligent use, § 940.10 and […]

State v. Christopher J. Felton, 2012 WI App 114 (recommended for publication); case activity Search & Seizure – PBT – Probable Cause  Notwithstanding that Felton passed field sobriety tests, probable cause existed to administer a preliminary breath test. ¶8        This section does not require that the officer have probable cause to arrest a driver for drunk […]

State v. Richard P. Flehmer, 2012AP534-CR, District 3, 9/18/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Delay of 29 months (22 of which attributable to state) between filing of complaint and trial, while presumptively prejudicial, didn’t violate 4-factor test for right to speedy trial: ¶15      Balancing all four factors, we conclude Flehmer’s right to a […]

State v. William Thomas Hudson, III, 2010AP1598-CR, District 4, 9/13/12 court of appeals decision (not recommended for publication); case activity ¶9        “The concept of outrageous governmental conduct originates from the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.” [State v. Givens, 217 Wis. 2d 180, 188, 580 N.W.2d 340 (Ct. App. 1998).] Outrageous governmental conduct may arise where […]

State v. Carl Rissley, 2012 WI App 112 (recommended for publication); case activity  Reasonable suspicion supported Terry stop to investigate possible crime. Homeowner called police to report early-morning confrontation with possible trespasser, who then took flight in van at high rate of speed, and officer stopped vehicle matching description within five minutes of report: ¶13      All of this […]

State v. Alvin C. Harris, 2012AP518-CR, District 2, 9/12/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Plea-Withdrawal  Harris failed to make a prima facie showing that his plea colloquy was defective, therefore his motion to withdraw plea was properly denied without an evidentiary hearing: ¶7        Here, Harris’s motion alleged that his plea was […]