State v. Michael A. Imbruglia, 2011AP1373-CR, District 2, 2/8/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Imbruglia: Rick Ramirez; case activity In circuit court, Imbruglia successfully challenged use of a Colorado conviction as an OWI enhancer (on the ground that statute isn’t “substantially similar” to Wisconsin’s). However, after another OWI arrest the very next day… Read more
E. Enhancers
State v. Christopher J. Holan, 2011AP1717-CR, District 3, 1/31/12 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Holan: Martha K. Askins; case activity Holan’s admission to his prior felony conviction satisfied § 973.12(1); the court rejects his argument that the record must show his knowledge that he faced increased punishment because of the prior… Read more
court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Gracia: Tracey A. Wood; case activity; petition for review granted 5/14/12 Warrantless Entry – Community Caretaker Entry into Gracia’s bedroom by police, who had linked him to a serious traffic accident, was justified by the community caretaker doctrine; State v. Ultsch, 2011 WI App 17, 331 Wis. 2d… Read more
State v. Jason L. Decorah, 2011AP662-CR, District 4, 12/8/11 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Decorah: Corey C. Chirafisi; case activity Collateral attack on a prior OWI used as a current enhancer, on the ground Decorah didn’t understand the range of penalties therefore didn’t validly waive counsel. Decorah prevailed below, and the court… Read more
State v. Jeffrey Steinhorst, 2011AP1360-CR, District 4, 11/23/11 court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Steinhorst: Steven Cohen; case activity Steinhorst made a prima facie showing that he did not validly waive counsel in a prior OWI case; therefore, he is entitled to a hearing at which the State must prove proper waiver… Read more
Marcus Sykes v. U.S., USSC No. 09-11311, 6/9/11 It is a federal crime for a convicted felon to be in unlawful possession of a firearm. 18 U. S. C. §922(g)(1). The ordinary maximum sentence for that crime is 10 years of imprisonment. §924(a)(2). If, however, when the unlawful possession occurred, the felon had three previous convictions for… Read more
McNeil v. U.S., USSC No. 10-5258, 6/6/11 Under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), a prior state drug-trafficking conviction is for a “serious drug offense” if “a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years or more is prescribed by law” for the offense. 18 U. S. C. §924(e)(2)(A)(ii). The question in this case concerns how… Read more
State v. Marilee Devries, 2011 WI App 78 (recommended for publication); for Devries: Matthew S. Pinix; case activity OWI – Repeater – Proof, Prior “Conviction” Certified copies of proceedings in foreign jurisdictions established adequate proof of prior OWI “connvictions,” § 343.307(1)(d). ¶9 When Wisconsin’s driving laws provide for the enhancement of penalties for a current… Read more
