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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.
OWI — Gated Community Roadway, Open to Public Use, Support for Drunk Driving under § 346.61
State v. Thomas P. Tecza, 2008 WI App 79, PFR filed 5/22/08
For Tecza: Timothy P. Swatek
Issue: Whether a roadway within a gated community entry to which is guarded by a security station is “held out to the public for use of their motor vehicles” so as to support drunk driving conviction within § 346.61.
Holding:
¶18 … We read Phillips as inquiring into whether the premises were available for use to the public or “to a defined limited portion of the citizenry.”Richling,
Enhancer – Proof: Timing (“Post-Trial”)
State v. Shane P. Kashney, 2008 WI App 164
For Kashney: Paul G. LaZotte, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue/Holding: While State v. Patrick A. Saunders, 2002 WI 107 limits proof of a repeater enhancement to the “post-trial” setting, that limitation is satisfied if the State submits the proof after verdict (and before the court has pronounced judgment).
¶1 In State v.
Due Process – Identification Procedure – Showup ID: Probable Cause Specific to Purpose of ID Unncessary
State v. Jonathan W. Nawrocki, 2008 WI App 23
For Nawrocki: Scott D. Obernberger
Issue/Holding:
¶2 The issue presented in this case is whether a showup identification is necessary, thus meeting the first test of admissibility under Dubose, when probable cause exists to justify an arrest of a suspect, but it does not exist on the particular offense under investigation. [3] We conclude that whenever probable cause exists to justify detention of a suspect,
Due Process – Identifcation Procedure – In-Court ID as Untainted by Impermissible Showup
State v. Jonathan W. Nawrocki, 2008 WI App 23
For Nawrocki: Scott D. Obernberger
Issue/Holding:
¶29 Having concluded that the showup identifications of Nawrocki were not necessary and therefore should have been suppressed, we next must address whether Albert’s and/or Gerhardt’s in-court identifications of Nawrocki were based on an independent source that was untainted by the impermissible showup identification. “[T]he exclusion of evidence of the out-of-court identifications does not deprive the prosecutor of reliable evidence of guilt.
Due Process – Restraints on Defendant in Courtroom – Sua Sponte Duty of Court to Investigate
State v. Kevin M. Champlain, 2008 WI App 5, (AG’s) PFR filed 1/4/08
For Champlain: Martha K. Askins, SPD, Madison Appellate
Issue/Holding: Once it became aware that the jail administrator was requiring that the defendant wear an armband taser device during the jury trial, the court, “the trial court had an affirmative, sua sponte duty to inquire into the necessity for the device,” ¶32. “The judge alone controls the courtroom and alone has the authority and the duty to make a restraint decision,” ¶34.
DNA Surcharge – Generally
State v. Ray Shawn Cherry, 2008 WI App 80
For Cherry: John T. Wasielewski
Issue/Holding:
¶5 The statutes governing this issue are clear. If a trial court sentences a defendant to a felony involving a sex crime contrary to Wis. Stat. §§ 940.225, 948.02(1) or (2) 948.025, or 948.085, the trial court must order the defendant to pay the $250 surcharge for the DNA sample.
(Permissive) DNA Surcharge – Exercise of Discretion
State v. Ray Shawn Cherry, 2008 WI App 80
For Cherry: John T. Wasielewski
Issue: Whether the sentencing court properly exercised discretion in imposing a DNA surcharge, where it misconstrued such action as mandatory rather than permissive and ignored the defendant’s prior such assessment.
Holding:
¶9 We hold that in assessing whether to impose the DNA surcharge, the trial court should consider any and all factors pertinent to the case before it,
Reasonable Suspicion – Frisk – High-Crime Area, etc.
State v. Tamara C. Limon, 2008 WI App 77, PFR filed 5/7/08
For Limon: Wm. Tyroler, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; Lisa A. Packard, Law Student
Issue/Holding:
¶34 Here, the officers were outnumbered and without backup when, following an anonymous tip that drug dealing and drug loitering activities were taking place on the porch of a residence in a high-crime area, they approached Limon and two men.
Frisk – “Plain Touch” – Contraband: Plastic Baggies
State v. Aaron E. Applewhite, 2008 WI App 138, PFR filed 9/19/08
For Applewhite: Pamela Moorshead
Issue/Holding:
¶12 The next question before us is whether Bastil’s discovery of contraband in Applewhite’s pockets is supported by the “plain touch” doctrine. When the pat-down itself is based on reasonable suspicion, the “plain feel” or “plain touch” exception to the warrant requirement may apply, and “when an officer touches or feels an object during a pat[-]down which his or her training and experience lead the officer to believe may be contraband,
Reasonable Suspicion – Frisk – Scope: Purse
State v. Tamara C. Limon, 2008 WI App 77, PFR filed 5/7/08
For Limon: Wm. Tyroler, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; Lisa A. Packard, Law Student
Issue/Holding:
¶36 In her final argument, Limon argues that when the officer opened her purse, the search exceeded the scope of a valid weapons frisk under Terry. Although Terry provides only for an officer “to conduct a carefully limited search of the outer clothing … in an attempt to discover weapons which might be used to assault him,” id.
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