State v. Lisa M. Arentz, 2011AP2307-CR / State v. Eric R. Hendricks, 2012AP243-CR, District 2, 9/5/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity (Arentz; Hendricks) Criminal OWI prosecution is premised on, and a resulting sentence enhanced by, a prior civil-forfeiture OWI conviction (which does not itself require unanimous jury verdict upon proof beyond reasonable doubt). Arentz… Read more
E. Enhancers
Question Presented: The California Burglary Statute Section 459 does not require as an element that a burglar “enter or remain unlawfully in a building”. The Ninth Circuit held that it could determine whether this “missing element” was shown to have been proven by applying the modified categorical approach. The issues presented are as follows: 1- Whether the Ninth… Read more
State v. Lavon J. Ash, Sr., 2012AP381-CR, District 2, 8/15/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, ineligible for publication); case activity Ash was sentenced to concurrent terms of one-year initial confinement, one-year extended supervision on two misdemeanor counts, a sentence structure he successfully challenges. Incompatible statutory mandates lie at the heart of the problem. In the first… Read more
State v. Roshawn Smith, 2012 WI 91, reversing in part, affirming in part unpublished decision; case activity Standard of Review: Sufficiency of Evidence ¶29 We understand Smith’s central argument regarding the standard of review on the evidentiary question to be summed up in the proposition that a jury verdict of guilt[9] must be reversed on appeal if “[t]he inferences that… Read more
Southern Union Company v. United States, USSC No. 11-94, 6/21/12, reversing 630 F.3d 17 (1st Cir 2010) Criminal fines, no less than length of imprisonment, come within the “Apprendi” doctrine, such that a fine beyond the maximum statutory amount must be based on facts decided by the jury. Southern Union was tried for violating environmental laws carrying a fine of… Read more
on review of unpublished court of appeals decision; for Gracia: Tracey A. Wood; case activity Warrantless Entry – Community Caretaker / OWI Enhancer – Collateral Attack Issues (Composed by On Point): Whether the community caretaker doctrine supported entry into Gracia’s bedroom after the police linked him to a serious traffic accident. Whether Gracia’s waiver of counsel in a prior… Read more
State v. David D. Austin, 2011AP1042, District 1, 4/10/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); pro se; case activity Because Austin was no longer in custody under the conviction he sought to collaterally attack pursuant to § 974.06, the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain his motion. It is not enough that he was in… Read more
State v. Traci L. Scott, 2011AP2115-CR, District 2, 3/21/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Scott: Rex Anderegg; case activity The court rejects Scott’s challenge to a prior OWI conviction, concluding that she aware of the range of punishments, dangers of self-representation, etc. General test recited: ¶2 A defendant facing an enhanced sentence… Read more
