THE STANGL LAW BLOG

Battery is a common misdemeanor offense in Wisconsin criminal courts.

Simple battery in Wisconsin, which is a battery that does not cause substantial bodily harm or worse, is Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and 9 months in jail. 

Most people think of battery as a punch, but it is not limited to a punch. So, what qualifies as battery in Wisconsin? Any act done with intent to cause bodily harm may qualify as a battery.

For example, choking, kicking, scratching, or twisting may all qualify as a battery if it:

1. Is done with the intent to cause bodily harm,
2. It causes bodily harm, and
3. Is done without consent of the person harmed.

If life's circumstances have left you facing a criminal charge of disorderly conduct with a firearm, you may be uncertain of your future and ready to take back control.

The first step in regaining your footing is having a better understanding of the charges against you, which is why we've prepared this primer on the fundamentals of defending yourself against the allegations.

There is no specific law that refers to disorderly conduct with a firearm, but two separate codes come into play: disorderly conduct and additional penalties for the use of a dangerous weapon.

Unlike other kinds of crimes, sexual assault, rape, and other sex offenses in Wisconsin often require individuals to register with a public catalog of current sex offenders. This is called the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry.

The information in the registry is made available to law enforcement agencies, victims, neighborhood watch groups and the general public via the official State of Wisconsin Offender Web Site. 

The requirements of registering can be complicated and depend on several factors, as some convictions carry mandatory registration requirements while others may not.

Even those not convicted of crimes categorized specifically as “sex crimes” can be required by a court to register if the nature of their crimes are found to be sexually motivated in one way or another.

Although criminal offenses are ultimately broken down into a number of separate categories based on the nature of the crime itself, the initial classification of a crime falls between one of two categories: felonies and misdemeanors.

Although the standards of classification are similar from state-to-state, the key-differentiating factor for Wisconsin crimes is the potential length of incarceration that would result from a conviction as well as the type of facility they would be housed in.

Let’s take a deeper look into the differences between the two kinds of crimes and what kind of consequences can result from conviction.

In today’s culture, being accused of a sexual offense usually comes with a “guilty until proven innocent” response from the public. Convictions often carry heavy penalties and consequences that affect your everyday life, even long after any formal punishments come to an end.

Mandatory registration as a sex offender, comparatively large fines, and mandatory minimum jail sentences are commonly associated with sex offenses in Wisconsin, as well as the rest of the country.

If you’ve been accused of a sex offense in Madison, Wisconsin, it’s crucial you have a full understanding of both the charges being levied against you, and what you need to do next to protect yourself.

If you're facing battery charges in Wisconsin, you may need answers to important questions:

"Will I have to go to jail for battery?"

"How can I defend against battery charges?"

"Is battery a felony in Wisconsin?

"What is substantial battery vs. aggravated battery?"

With over 20 years of criminal defense experience, Stangl Law knows it's best to have your questions answered by an attorney to explore the specific details of your case to identify an effective defense strategy.

Stangl Law provides a FREE, no-obligation, 15-minute consultation to get you pointed in the right direction as you begin your fight to defend against battery, substantial battery or aggravated battery charges in Wisconsin. 

Let's explore how battery is defined in Wisconsin and discuss the potential penalties of battery, substantial battery and aggravated battery.

The question seems simple: "What is domestic abuse?"

The answer, however, varies from state to state. 

It's generally understood that acts of battery or assault committed against another member of your family or household are considered domestic abuse.

This article will focus on answering the following questions relating to domestic battery or abuse charges in the state of Wisconsin:

• What is domestic abuse?
• Will I be arrested if someone claims I committed domestic abuse?
• If I was not immediately arrested for domestic abuse am I safe from arrest?
• What are the penalties for domestic abuse?
• How can I defend against charges of domestic abuse?
  

In Wisconsin, courts use sentencing guidelines unique to each judicial district when determining a sentence following an OWI conviction. These guidelines identify many of the important criteria considered when imposing a sentence, however, judges have discretion in evaluating the facts and circumstances of each case when determining a particular sentence.

Wisconsin's OWI sentencing guidelines do not require any specific sentence outside of the mandatory minimums established by statute and any aggravating or mitigating factors may impact the judge's sentencing decisions. The facts and circumstances of each case are considered before a sentence is determined.

When you're faced with criminal charges after an arrest or ongoing investigation, choosing the best Madison criminal defense attorney can be difficult.

Criminal investigations can place an immense amount of stress on those preparing to defend themselves in court. If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s important you seek legal counsel immediately. Although it’s in your best interest to act as quickly as possible, making an informed decision when it comes to selecting an attorney can have a drastic impact on the outcome of your case.

Here are four essential tips for to ensure that you make the right decision when it comes to a Madison criminal defense attorney:

If you've been arrested for driving under the influence in Wisconsin, you might be charged with additional criminal offenses you hadn't expected.

Wisconsin OWI law does not generalize all drunk driving cases into one standard set of penalties. Although you might first associate repeated drunk driving offenses with additional or more severe punishments, there are in fact a wide range of circumstances that could place someone charged with OWI in more trouble.

There are a number of situations and factors which could result in you facing additional charges during an OWI stop in Wisconsin. Keep reading to learn more about these situations and their associated penalties.