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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.

Drug Tax Stamp, §§ 139.87-139.96 — Constitutionality

State v. Glover B. Jones, 2002 WI App 196, PFR filed 8/22/02
For Jones: Mark D. Richards

Issue/Holding: The drug tax stamp law, §§ 139.87-139.96,  amended to address State v. Hall, 207 Wis. 2d 54, 557 N.W.2d 778 (1997), doesn’t violate the privilege against compelled self-incrimination, ¶33-36.

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Extradition Procedure – Transfer to and from Out-of-State Prison

State ex rel. Bradley Jones v. Smith, 2002 WI App 90, PFR filed 4/19/02

For Jones: Jeffrey W. Jensen

Issue: Whether a prisoner is entitled to discharge of sentence if transported through another state without use of the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, § 976.03.

Holding: 

¶5                        According to Jones and Morey, the government is required to use the extradition process whenever and wherever prisoners are transported through noncontracting states on their way to incarceration in a contracting state. 

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Guilty Plea waiver Rule – Issues Waived — Double Jeopardy

State v. Jimmie Davison, 2002 WI App 109, overruled on other grounds, 2003 WI 89, ¶111
For Davison: Keith A. Findley, UW Law School

Issue/Holding: A guilty plea doesn’t waive a facially valid multiplicity claim. ¶13.

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§ 904.04, Character Evidence – “Pertinent Trait” and Relevance

State v. Glenn E. Davis, 2002 WI 75, reversing and remanding 2001 WI App 210, 247 Wis. 2d 917, 634 N.W.2d 922
For Davis: James M. Shellow

Issue/Holding:

¶16. The rules on character evidence and expert testimony allow for the admissibility of Richard A.P. evidence. Under our rules of evidence, a defendant may introduce “pertinent trait[s]”

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Plea Bargains — Breach: Procedural Issues — Objection, Sustained

State v. Michael A. Grindemann, 2002 WI App 106, PFR filed 5/23/02
For Grindemann: Leonard D. Kachinsky

Issue/Holding:

¶27 … Here, Grindemann did object to the prosecutor’s mention of uncharged offenses at sentencing, but the objection was based on the lack of evidence ‘properly before the court,’ not on any claim that the State was violating either the terms or the ‘spirit’ of the plea agreement.

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Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) — Prior Juvenile Offense — Probative Value

State v. Jon P. Barreau, 2002 WI App 198, PFR filed 8/12/02
For Barreau: Glenn C. Reynolds

Issue: Whether evidence that the defendant committed a burglary at the age of 13 was admissible as extrinsic evidence to impeach his testimonial denial, on cross-examination, of intent to steal.

Holding: § 906.08(2) expressly prohibits using extrinsic evidence of specific instances of conduct to attack a witness’s credibility,

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Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) — Prior Domestic Abuse — on Trial of Battery to Live-in Girlfriend

State v. Joseph F. Volk, 2002 WI App 274
For Volk: Charles B. Vetzner, SPD, Madison App

Issue: Whether, in a prosecution for battery against the defendant’s live-in girlfriend, evidence of the defendant’s domestic abuse of his former wife was admissible.

Holding: The evidence tended to refute the defense of lack of intent to harm:

¶22. Here, the prior acts testified to by Love were very similar to the events surrounding the charged offense and,

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Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) — Prior Sexual Assault of Child — 11 years Earlier — not Remote in Time

State v. Michael L. Veach, 2002 WI 110, reversing 2001 WI App 143
For Veach: Suzanne Hagopian, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue: Whether, on charges of sexually assaulting a 7-year old girl, evidence that the defendant had sexually assaulted his 9-year old daughter approximately 11 years earlier was properly admissible.

Holding:

  • 1). The evidence was offered for an acceptable purpose,
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Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) — Motive to Flee: Outstanding Warrants — “Not Classic ‘Other Crimes’ Evidence”

State v. Brian D. Seefeldt, 2002 WI App 149, affirmed2003 WI 47
For Seefeldt: Donald T. Lang, SPD, Madison Appellate

Issue/Holding:

¶23. We are satisfied that the reference to the outstanding warrants is not classic “other acts” evidence invoking Wis. Stat. § 904.04(2) analysis. Rather, the existence of the warrants is “part of the panorama of evidence” that directly supports Seefeldt’s defense and sits at the heart of his right to present exculpatory evidence.

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Particular Examples of Misconduct, § 904.04(2) — Prior Sexual Assaults — 15-25 Years Earlier, not Remote

State v. Eugene P. Opalewski, 2002 WI App 145, PFR filed 6/6/02
For Opalewski: Lorinne J. Cunningham

Issue/Holding: On charges of first degree sexual assault of a child and incest, evidence of the defendant’s past sexual abuse of his two daughters and the children of a prior girlfriend was admissible under the three-step test of State v. Sullivan, 216 Wis.

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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.