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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.

State v. Gerald D. Taylor, 2011AP1030-CR, rev. granted 3/15/12

court of appeals certification; for Taylor: Shelley Fite, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity; prior post

Issue (from Certification): 

Whether understating the potential penalty during a plea colloquy can properly be deemed harmless error, and if so, where in the analytical framework of Bangert such a determination should be made.

The guilty plea court misinformed Taylor that the maximum he faced was 6,

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Open Records / Public Access to Court Records: Treatment Records, Generally – NGI Conditional Release Plan; Appellate Procedure: “Aggrieved Party” Right to Appeal

In the matter of State of Wisconsin v. Bryan J. Stanley: La Crosse Tribune v. Circuit Court for La Crosse County, 2012 WI App 42 (recommended for publication); case activity

Open Records / Public Access to Court Records – Treatment Records, Generally 

(Discussion with respect to newspaper’s Open Records request for information contained in NGI conditional release plan:)

¶25      While this is a criminal commitment case following an NGI finding under Wis.

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Appellate Procedure: Traffic Forfeiture or Municipal Ordinance Appeal – Circuit Court Docket Entries Tantamount to Final Order

Village of McFarland v. Jennifer M. Zetzman, 2012 WI App 49 (recommended for publication); case activity

Appeal to the court of appeals of a municipal ordinance or traffic forfeiture disposition may be based on the circuit court docket entries instead of a written final order, whether the case originated in municipal or circuit court:

¶2        In this case, Jennifer Zetzman was convicted in municipal court of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and with a prohibited blood alcohol concentration.  

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Reasonable Suspicion – Traffic Stop, OWI

Village of DeForest v. Lynn J. Braun, 2011AP2116, District 4, 3/15/12

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Braun: Robert Nagel; case activity

Stop for driving under the influence unsupported by reasonable suspicion:

¶11      I likewise conclude that there were insufficient facts before Officer Schaefer which could lead him to reasonably suspect that Braun was driving a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.  

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Charging Document: Notice of Nature of Charge – Element of Force Omitted; Sentencing: Inaccurate Information – Misperceived Mandatory Minimum

State v. Lamont L. Travis, 2012 WI App 46 (recommended for publication), petition for review granted, 9/18/12; case activity

For unsuccessfully trying to put his hand down his 10-year-old niece’s pants, Travis was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, attempted first-degree sexual assault of a child under age 12, §§ 939.32, 948.02(1)(d). However, that particular form of assault requires use or threat of use of force and violence,

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SVP (Ch. 980) Supervised Release: Challenge to Conditions, Ripeness – Validity, Condition Abide by Correctional Facility Rules

State v. Dennis R. Thiel, 2012 WI App 48 (recommended for publication); for Thiel: Jeffrey W. Jensen; case activity

SVP (Ch. 980) Supervised Release – Challenge to Conditions: Ripeness 

Thiel’s challenge to 2 conditions of his supervised release from a ch. 980 commitment are ripe for review (the conditions relate to possible detention in a correctional facility and administration of polygraphs):

¶7        The State argues that Thiel’s claims are not ripe for review because no circumstances have arisen where Rules 13 and 16 were sought to be enforced.  

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Sentence Credit, § 973.155

State v. Daryl J. Teska, 2011AP1010-CR, District 2, 3/14/12

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Teska: John E. German; case activity

Teska was originally placed on probation, sentences withheld, on 3 counts; jail time as a condition of probation was ordered as to 1 count. Probation was later revoked and although all 3 of sentences were imposed concurrently, credit for the time spent in jail as a condition of probation was allocated only to that particular count.

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OWI – Operating on Public “Premises” – Frozen Lake

State v. Todd M. Anderson, 2011AP1499-CR, District 2, 3/14/12

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Anderson: pro se; case activity

Frozen Lake Winnebago is a public “premises” within § 346.61, therefore supports prosecution for operating a vehicle on the lake while intoxicated. City of Kenosha v. Phillips, 142 Wis. 2d 549, 419 N.W.2d 236 (1988), discussed and applied.

¶9        Unlike the Phillips court,

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Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud, §§ 939.31, 943.20(1)(d): Value of Stolen Property:Sufficiency of Evidence; Sentencing: Accurate Information – Partial Acquittal

State v. Matthew R. Steffes, 2012 WI App 47 (recommended for publication), petition for review granted, 10/16/12; for Steffes: Jeffrey W. Jensen; case activity

Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Fraud, §§ 939.31, 943.20(1)(d) – Sufficiency of Evidence 

Evidence held sufficient to sustain Steffes’ conviction for conspiracy to commit theft by fraud, based on his participation in a prisoners’ “burn-out” telephone scam.

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Sex Offender Registration § 301.45 – Homeless Registrant

State v. William Dinkins, Sr., 2012 WI 24, affirming 2010 WI App 163; for Dinkins: Steven D. Phillips, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity; note: the court affirms the mandate (reversal of conviction and dismissal of charge), but “upon a different rationale,” ¶63; the net effect is, “affirmed, as modified

Although homelessness is not in and of itself a defense to prosecution for failing to register as a sex offender, 

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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.